Department for Transport

Water

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce water (a) usage and (b) bills in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport has reduced its overall water consumption by 8% (16,000m³) over the last 4 years and the consumption in its office environment has fallen from 7.7m³ per FTE (Full Time Equivalent) to 5.95m³ over the same period. The Department is constantly looking at ways to reduce its water consumption and has introduced measures where there has been a viable financial and environmental benefit. These measures include rain water harvesting, water pressure reductions, dual flush toilet cisterns, sensor controlled taps and improved leak detection by improved metering. These reductions in water usage have contributed to lower bills than would have been received if no consumption savings had been made.

Railways: Catering

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the (a) passenger survey data and (b) other evidence used by his Department to determine the specifications for (i) full restaurant or at-seat catering services for first class passengers and (ii) trolley service only for standard class passengers on new Intercity Express Programme trains.

Claire Perry: The design of all on board passenger facilities including level of catering provision reflects is a matter for the train operator based on input from passenger groups, who are best placed to understand passenger’s expectations and priorities. Operators can request specific requirements; for example East Coast is considering a buffet car and “at-seat food ordering”, including in standard class. The Hon Member should contact the respective stakeholders should he wish to see the information that underpins their positions. The Department does not own this data.

East Coast Railway Line

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the at-seat catering service provided by the new franchisee for passengers on the East Coast Main Line will be in addition to a buffet car or café-bar on the train.

Claire Perry: Inter City Railways Ltd plan to introduce buffet facilities on the new InterCity Express trains in the form of a Café-Bar style outlet capable of producing hot and cold snacks and drinks, in addition to the at-seat catering service. There are no plans to remove the existing buffet provision on the current fleet.

East Coast Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the InterCity East Coast Franchise Agreement contains a quantified description of the planned future structure and approach to determining the level of unregulated fares.

Claire Perry: There are no requirements relating to unregulated fares contained within the new InterCity East Coast franchise agreement. However, Inter City Railways Limited have committed to reducing standard anytime fares, which are regulated, by 10% from May 2015.

Network Rail

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that Network Rail operates within its budget for the 2014-15 financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Network Rail operates under a network licence enforced and monitored by the independent Office of Rail Regulation, which also sets the spending and expected outputs for the railway over the current five-year Control Period 5 covering 2014-19. The Office of Rail Regulation continues to monitor and oversee Network Rail’s delivery of outputs, efficiency and financial performance against what it has challenged Network Rail to deliver in its Determination for Control Period 5. The Framework Agreement between Network Rail and the Department for Transport sets out the new approach to governance, financing, accounting and budgeting following Network Rail’s reclassification to the public sector. It has been written with reference to “Managing Public Money”, the HM Treasury guidance on the principles for managing public resources. The Framework Agreement includes a requirement upon Network Rail to provide regular financial information, and to lay a copy of its accounts in Parliament.

London-Brighton Railway Line

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on punctuality performance on the Brighton mainline; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Ministers and officials regularly meet senior figures from Network Rail and across the industry at a range of forums to discuss current issues, including punctuality performance. The current level of performance on Network Rail’s Sussex Route, including the Brighton main line, is significantly below the planned level, and we have made it clear that we expect the industry to do its utmost to deliver the level of performance for which it is being funded. In addition, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), which is responsible for regulating the performance of Network Rail, is working closely with Network Rail with the aim of resolving the current issues which are affecting performance on this route.

Motor Vehicles

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the introduction of driverless cars on British roads and urban spaces.

Claire Perry: The Government has a progressive approach to these advanced technologies and the Department for Transport is working with other government departments to establish demonstrator projects that will provide valuable understanding of the use of driverless vehicles. The Department will implement a road user behavioural study to run in parallel to trials and is planning to publish a review of regulations to facilitate the use of driverless vehicles in the UK.

Transport: Thames Valley

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to improve transport links in the Thames Valley.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government launched the Roads Investment Strategy on 1 December. The M4 Junction 3-12 smart motorway project to upgrade the M4 between Reading and Heathrow continues to be progressed. This month the Highways Agency is conducting a public consultation on the proposals, including exhibitions at 11 locations in the Thames Valley. Construction of Crossrail is now more than half completed and electrification of the Great Western Main Line is also under way. Electrification of the Thames Valley branch lines, including the Slough to Windsor line, is approved and will improve local connectivity. The transformation of Reading station was completed on time and under budget as part of the £850 million Reading Station Area Redevelopment programme and formally opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 17 July. The programme to increase passenger capacity on the Reading and Windsor to Waterloo railway by 25% is now under way and will be completed in early 2015. 60 additional carriages are being incorporated into an extended and refurbished fleet of trains to operate as a maximum 10 carriage train length. In July the Government announced £94.6m to support local transport projects across Berkshire as part of the Growth Deal with the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, in addition to the £36.9m integrated transport block funding announced in March for the six Berkshire local authorities, covering the period 2015/16 to 2020/21.

Bus Services: Disability

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the Public Services Vehicle Accessibility Regulation to include measures to ensure the provision of audio visual announcements on buses.

Mr John Hayes: The Department for Transport recognises that many people find audio and visual announcements useful when travelling by bus. However, we also understand that this technology comes at a considerable cost, particularly for smaller, local operators. With this in mind, my Noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, has launched a new schools technology competition, which will seek innovative and cost-effective solutions on how to provide passengers with accessible information during their journey. We have no plans to amend the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000 to make these systems mandatory.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how many drivers of UK-registered vehicles will not pay the Dartford Crossing toll following changes to the payment arrangements; what estimate he has made of the potential annual loss of revenue from such non-payment; and what steps will be taken to recover payment from drivers of UK-registered vehicles who do not pay the toll.

Mr John Hayes: Enforcing the charge and tackling evasion, where road users do not pay the charge, will be an important component of the Dart Charge scheme. The new Dartford Charging Scheme Order enables the Highways Agency to enforce the Dartford road user charge through penalty charges and recovery processes.

Speed Limits: Rural Areas

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the national speed limit on rural roads.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department has provided guidance to traffic authorities in the Speed Limit Circular 01/2013- Setting Local Speed Limits. This encourages traffic authorities to keep speed limits under review, and to consider lower speed limits than the default, especially where there may be a relatively high number of bends, junctions or accesses. Consideration of collision history, road function, mix of road users including presence of vulnerable road users, road geometry, engineering and environment, and actual traffic speed should enable traffic authorities to determine the appropriate limit on rural roads.

Road Traffic: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many traffic surveys and counts his Department has conducted in Shipley constituency since 2010.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport (DfT) has conducted the following numbers of manual traffic counts within the area covered by Shipley constituency in each year since 2010. 2010 12 Counts2011 8 Counts2012 9 Counts2013 6 Counts2014 4 CountsThese counts are carried out for the purpose of producing DfT’s statistics on traffic. They are conducted by observing traffic at designated locations and consequently have no impact on the traffic flows.

East Coast Railway Line

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the new franchise for passenger rail services on the East Coast Main Line ensures that the role of the guard is maintained on all trains for the life of the contract.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport has no requirements regarding the role of the guard in the new InterCity East Coast franchise. This will be a matter for the operator.

East Coast Railway Line

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Written Statement of 27 November 2014, Official Report, column 49-50WS on Rail Franchising, what the reasons are for the difference between his Department's estimate of £3.3 billion for the premium the new East Coast Main Line franchisee will repay over the next eight years and the estimate of £2.3 billion premium payments over the same period in Stagecoach's press release of the same day.

Claire Perry: The numbers published by the Secretary of State and by Stagecoach are consistent but are expressed in different terms. The £3.3bn referenced in the Written Ministerial Statement and the Department for Transport’s press release is the total franchise premium in expressed in nominal terms. The £2.35bn total franchise premium referenced by Stagecoach’s press notice is the total franchise premium expressed in Net Present Value (NPV) (premium payments in real terms discounted at 3.5%).

High Speed Trains

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Written Statement of 27 November 2014, Official Report, column 49-50WS on Rail Franchising, how many high speed trains there are on the East Coast Main Line; how many will be replaced by new Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains; and how many will remain in service on the (a) East Coast, (b) national network and (c) regional network after the introduction of IEP trains.

Claire Perry: The current fleet of 44 trains made up of 14 High Speed Trains (HSTs) and 30 Inter City 225s (IC225s) on the InterCity East Coast will be replaced by 65 new state-of-the-art trains provided by the Intercity Express Programme from 2018. These trains will be assembled at the Hitachi plant in Newton Aycliffe providing around 730 jobs. Inter City Railways Ltd also expects to provide 6 additional high speed intercity trains to supplement the fleet. Plans for cascading the rolling stock from the InterCity East Coast franchise to other parts of the network are a matter for the ROSCOs (Rolling stock leasing companies).

East Coast Railway Line

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it will be mandatory under the East Coast Main Line franchise for new security and revenue officers to attest as a special constable.

Claire Perry: All of the dual-role Security and Revenue officers on the new InterCity East Coast franchise will be attested as special constables.

Railways: North of England

Mr David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213982, if he will redesign the specification for the new contracting commissioning programme to take account of future plans for upgrading and improving the existing offer to travellers on the TransPennine routes; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The specifications for each franchise take into account future plans for upgrading and improving the network during the expected life of the new franchises. The Department for Transport also conducts public consultations when developing the specifications contained within the Invitations to Tender (ITTs) for each competition to ensure that they take account of other factors and reflect the needs of passengers. We have followed this approach for the current TransPennine Express franchise and expect to continue to do so for future competitions including those for any future TransPennine Express franchise, to ensure that franchises continue to deliver for passengers and taxpayers.

Government Car Service

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2014 to Question 214347, what deadline he has set for the Environment Agency's submission to the Government's fleet review.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2014 to Question 214347, what deadline he has set for the Department of Communities and Local Government's submission to the Government's fleet review.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2014 to Question 214347, what deadline he has set for the Department of Education's submission to the Government's fleet review.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2014 to Question 214347, what deadline he has set the NHS Blood and Transplant service for submitting its contribution to the Government's fleet review.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2014 to Question 214347, what deadline he has set for the Department for Work and Pensions' submission to the Government's fleet review.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The deadline for central government departments to confirm whether they wanted to participate in the ultra low emission vehicle readiness project was 13 October. No deadline was given to participants for the provision of data to the fleet review process. We currently expect the reviews to have concluded by 31 March 2015. We will give an update thereafter on how many vehicles will be integrated into each fleet.

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what checks are in place to ensure that MOTs are conducted properly; and what action is taken if they are not.

Claire Perry: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conduct a number of different activities to monitor the quality of testing at MOT Garages. These range from re-inspecting vehicles that have just been tested through to conducting mystery shopper type activities.DVSA use a mechanism to target its resource to those MOT Garages that present the greatest risk profile. The type of activity conducted is based on that which is best suited for the identified risk. These activities can range from an educative type support to a more stringent enforcement approach. Where poor quality testing has been identified an assessment is carried out and, again, the approach is designed to be proportionate to the need - focused on best ensuring test quality. This could include on-site support or redirected additional training. More serious cases can result in the authorisation of either the Tester or the Authorised Examiner being removed from the scheme.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Health: Males

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to support the work of the UK Men's Sheds Association.

Stephen Williams: We welcome the work done by organisations like the UK Men’s Shed Association which help people to keep active. This has significant benefits, which is reflected in the lottery funding which has been given to the Association. As well as the positive impact on the general well-being and health of the participating individuals, the work of the Association also actively supports community engagement and recycling and re-use of materials, both of which are Government priorities. This Government believes strongly in the importance of allotments within local communities and wants local authorities to do all they can to ensure that allotments are maintained and used effectively. In this context, on 30 January the Department published new guidance, “Allotment Disposal Guidance: Safeguards and alternatives”, to clarify the legal and policy safeguards in place to ensure that disposal is transparent and handled properly and thoroughly. This guidance is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/allotment-disposal-guidance-safeguards-and-alternatives.

Pedestrian Areas: Trees

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assistance his Department provides to local authorities on replacing trees in pavements.

Brandon Lewis: The Government has funded the “Big Tree Plant” scheme, giving up to £4 million in grants from 2011 to 2015 to help pay for the planting of at least once million new trees in urban areas. The scheme is now closed to new applicants, but nearly 820,000 new trees have already been planted. Councils also receive general funding from central government and locally-raised sources which can be used to support tree planting, if they wish. The “Manual for Streets”, while out of date in certain areas (e.g. on parking and density), contains some guidance on street trees and tree planting. It can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/manual-for-streets

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the cost to local and central government of industrial action in the fire service since January 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: Holding answer received on 27 November 2014



The strike action called by the Fire Brigades Union has been unnecessary and unproductive. The 2015 firefighter pension scheme will provide one of the most generous schemes in the public sector and has been improved through consultation. Since January 2014, central government has invested £2 million to enhance the nation’s resilience against industrial action and other potential disruption to fire and rescue services. Individual fire and rescue authorities are responsible for their own business continuity plans for industrial action, and we do not hold information centrally on any costs they incur in implementing those plans, or indeed, the savings they will have accrued through deduction of striking firefighters’ wages. National resilience has been strengthened by the work and training undertaken by both local and central government.

Affordable Housing

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage the building of affordable housing; and how many affordable homes have been built in Essex since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: Almost 217,000 affordable homes have been delivered in England since April 2010. Our Affordable Homes Programme is on track to deliver 170,000 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2015, with £19.5 billion of public and private funding. Over 144,000 homes have already been delivered This Government has demonstrated its continued commitment to the building of affordable housing. The Government’s National Infrastructure Plan announced an extension of affordable housing capital investment to 2018-19 and 2019-20, of £1.9 billion to ensure that an average 55,000 new affordable homes a year continue to be delivered. This will bring the delivery total to 275,000 across 2015-20. This means over the next Parliament we will build more new affordable homes than during any equivalent period in the last twenty years. Statistics on additional affordable housing, including both newly built housing and acquisitions, provided in each local authority area in England are published in the Department’s live tables 1006, 1006a, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply A table giving figures, by local authority, for affordable housing delivery in England between April 2010 and September 2014 is attached.



Affordable Housing Delivery Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 294.82 KB)

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Department's buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has assessed the feasibility of introducing renewable energy generation across it estate as part of a series of more detailed carbon reduction audits. Although some opportunities for installing micro-generation technologies have been identified, a range of even more cost-effective carbon reduction opportunities were also identified. My Department has therefore chosen to follow the energy hierarchy, by implementing the most cost-effective options for reducing energy, primarily low and no cost energy efficiency and energy conservation measures, ahead of installing renewable technologies. By adopting this strategy, the Department has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 54% since 2009-10, and reduced its annual energy bill by £925,000 since 2009-10. The Department continues to consider all available options for introducing even greater efficiencies.

Incinerators: Gloucestershire

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to take a decision on the application by Gloucestershire County Council to site an incinerator facility at Javelin Park.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



A decision will be made in due course after careful consideration of the issues.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Stephen Williams: Holding answer received on 08 December 2014



The Government funds the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to deliver the annual Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration and local activities across England, Wales and Scotland. Given the significance of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, we have increased our funding to the Trust to ensure that Holocaust Memorial Day 2015 is commemorated with dignity and in a way that honours survivors and ensures that as a nation we remember.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Kashmir

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received from international non-governmental organisations and private sector organisations on human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Mr Hugo Swire: We are aware of reports from non-governmental organisations on the human rights situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, and we continue to follow developments in the region. We are clear that allegations of human rights abuses must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. We regularly raise concerns through our High Commission in Delhi as appropriate.

Kashmir

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in India and Pakistan on finding a resolution to their dispute over Kashmir.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 27 November 2014 (PQ 215726).

India

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on that country's ratification and implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Government recommended that the Indian government expedite ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture during India’s Universal Periodic Review in May, 2012. The issue was also raised at the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue in December, 2013. The former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) discussed the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict with the Indian Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj during his visit to India in July 2014. We welcomed the Indian High Commissioner to the UK's attendance at the the ‘End Sexual Violence in Conflict’ Summit in June 2014.

Kashmir

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures he has taken to promote human rights and democracy in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Mr Hugo Swire: Officials from our High Commission in Delhi regularly discuss the situation in Kashmir with the government of India, and travel to the region periodically to see the situation on the ground for themselves, in line with our travel advice.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Department's buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has assessed the potential for installing renewable technologies on its London and Hanslope Park estate. The installation of solar panels or wind turbines on the London estate was determined not to be feasible for infrastructural, planning and other reasons. A feasibility study at our large Hanslope Park campus site, looked at a range of renewable options, including wind, roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels, solar domestic hot water, a photovoltaic solar farm, a photovoltaic solar canopy over the car park, tri-generation biomass heat and power, anaerobic digestion and ground source heat pumps. It concluded that the best option would be to install site-wide renewables on a larger than micro-generation scale. At present, 100% biodiesel from waste and secondary oils is used to heat Hanslope Park, providing 2,878,247 kWh of ultra-low carbon heat in the 2013/14 winter heating season.

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the international radio call sign was for commercial fishing vessels licensed in the waters of Ascension Island in 2013.

James Duddridge: Each vessel has a unique radio call sign which is displayed on the outside of the vessel. The call signs for the commercial fishing vessels licensed in Ascension waters in 2013 were: 7KME, 8KIT, BH3040, BH3125, BH3138, BH3200, BH3300, BH3315, BH3338, BH3353, BH3356, BH3358, BI2158, BI2315, BI2328, BI2331, BI2342, BI2429, BI2443, BI2488, BI2554, BI2559, BI2561, BI2563, BI2566, BI2567, BZ8US, BZJQ, BZLQ, DUTG-6, JIRS, JISH, JKBT, JQEC, JRJD.

Hong Kong

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213991, whether the Hong Kong Police are continuing the process of verifying whether any of the tear gas canisters used during the protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 were manufactured by a UK company.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iraq

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of Iranian military involvement in action against ISIL in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Iranian military forces have been involved in a range of activities against ISIL in Iraq, including direct kinetic action against ISIL targets and mentoring the Iraqi Security Forces. We are aware of reports that indicate Iranian aircraft have also conducted airstrikes against ISIL positions.

Republic of Ireland

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Irish government about the Republic of Ireland re-joining the Commonwealth.

Mr David Lidington: The Republic of Ireland’s interest in rejoining the Commonwealth is a matter for the Irish Government and the wider Commonwealth membership. The UK Government has had no discussions with the Irish Government on this issue.

Moldova

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the results of the recent general election in Moldova.

Mr David Lidington: The 30 November Moldovan parliamentary elections illustrate Moldova’s commitment to democracy. We support the right of every Moldovan voter to have their say on the future they want for their country without outside interference.We look forward to the quick formation of a new government which can govern in an inclusive and accountable manner, implementing the EU-Moldova Association Agreement and making progress in key policy areas including the fight against corruption, continued reform of the justice sector, and combating discrimination.

Colombia

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Colombian government on the protection of politicians and peace activists who have been threatened and targeted for assassination by paramilitary organisations.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hong Kong

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213991, what process was followed for determining whether arms transfer licences should be reviewed as a consequence of the use of tear gas canisters during the protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hong Kong

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213991, for what reasons it was decided that following the use of tear gas canisters during protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 only one arms transfer licence should be subject to review.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hong Kong

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213991, what discussions the Government has had with Hong Kong police to verify whether any and how many of the tear gas canisters used during protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 were manufactured by Chemring Ltd or another UK company.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hong Kong

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213991, what independent verification would be considered adequate to persuade the Government whether the tear gas canisters used during the protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014 were manufactured by a UK company; and what steps his Department has taken to verify whether this is the case.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Northern Ireland Office

Water

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to reduce water (a) usage and (b) bills in her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department is committed to reducing water usage. In the London office, water usage is monitored by the landlord, Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT). Northern Ireland Office officials engage with HMT regularly, along with other tenants, on meeting water efficiency targets and the costs for water usage are built in to the rental charge for the premises.In the Belfast office, as part of a range of efficiency and reform measures, a number of working practices have been streamlined or ceased in recent months, which have resulted in reduced water usage. My Department does not pay water charges for the Belfast office.Whilst the Northern Ireland Office still utilises a small area of accommodation at Hillsborough Castle for Ministers, Historic Royal Palaces took over responsibility for management of the Castle on 1 April 2014 and they are now responsible for water efficiency. We do not pay water charges for the accommodation at Hillsborough Castle.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the capacity of her Departmental buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department is currently based in two sites; Stormont House in Belfast and 1 Horse Guards Road in London. Both sites are leased, with the responsibility for energy supplies resting with the respective landlords.The Northern Ireland Office managed Hillsborough Castle before handing over its responsibility to Historic Royal Palaces on 1 April 2014. Whilst under my Department’s management, a bio-mass heating system and solar panels were installed to provide the site with micro-generated, low-carbon energy.

Community Development: Young People

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assistance her Department is giving to tackle feelings of isolation among working class Protestant youth.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Government takes this issue seriously though measures to deal with it are primarily for the Northern Ireland Executive.I am aware that one of the aims of the Northern Ireland Executive’s United Community strategy is to meet the needs of young people, including those from a Protestant working class background.Through the Economic Pact agreed in June 2013, this Government provided additional borrowing powers to support projects which promote a shared society, including schools and further education colleges, which will contribute towards meeting the needs of young people from a range of backgrounds including the group referred to in the hon Member’s question.

Asylum: Syria

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the capacity to resettle Syrian refugees in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The tragic situation is Syria continues to concern us all and I commend the work of organisations such as the Disasters Emergency Committee that are bringing much needed relief.The hon Lady will understand that if refugees were to come to Northern Ireland an assessment of the capacity needed in any resettlement would need to be undertaken by the relevant Northern Ireland Executive Departments in consultation with Whitehall Departments such as the FCO and Home Office.

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she has taken to insulate her Departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department is currently based in two sites; Stormont House in Belfast and 1 Horse Guards Road in London. Both sites are leased, with the responsibility for insulation of premises resting with the respective landlords.Whilst the Northern Ireland Office still utilises a small area of accommodation at Hillsborough Castle for Ministers, Historic Royal Palaces took over responsibility for management of the Castle on 1 April 2014 and they are now responsible for insulation of the premises.

Easter Rising

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Irish government about UK representation at the centenary of the Easter Rising.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: One of the Northern Ireland Office’s key objectives for the commemoration of the decade of centenaries of 1912-1922 is to work with the Irish Government to promote greater understanding of our shared history.I am aware that on 12 November 2014 the Irish Government launched its programme for the centenary of the Easter Rising. My officials will be coordinating with Irish Government and Foreign and Commonwealth Office counterparts in due course to discuss plans for representation.

Terrorism

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment she has made of the threat to national security posed by terrorist organisations that continue to operate in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The safety of people and communities in Northern Ireland remains this Government’s highest priority. While the threat level remains at Severe, excellent co-operation between PSNI and its partners has disrupted the activity of terrorist groupings. There have been a number of significant arrests, charges and convictions which are helping to suppress the threat.

Detainees: Human Rights

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information she has received from the Irish government on whether any new evidence informed that government's decision to refer back to the European Court a 1978 decision relating to the treatment of people detained in Northern Ireland in 1971.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The decision of the Irish Government to ask the European Court of Human Rights to re-open the case relating to the treatment of persons detained in 1971 is a matter for them.The UK Government is considering the implications of the decision.

Attorney General

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Law Officers' Departments buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) commissioned Sustainability Surveys in respect of its major energy consuming sites in 2011. The surveys considered: photovoltaics, solar water heating, wind turbines, biomass boilers, ground source heating, micro-hydro and combined heat and power. Apart from photovoltaics and solar water heating none of the technologies was considered suitable for further investigation.   In the case of the sites where photovoltaics and solar water heating were considered technically achievable the economic investment and payback period was not considered viable.   The CPS also responded to a central government request for sites potentially suitable for solar panels in 2014 and no sites were considered viable.  The remaining Law Officers Departments have not made any such assessments. All of them are currently tenants based in a small number of leased properties and do not have any direct responsibility for implementing micro-generation systems within these buildings.

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Attorney General, what steps he has taken to insulate the Law Officers' departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service commissioned sustainability surveys in respect of its major energy consuming sites in 2011. There were a limited number of recommendations made in respect of cavity wall, loft and pipework insulation, however these were not progressed due to technical constraints.   The remaining Law Officers Departments are currently all tenants based in a small number of leased buildings and do not therefore have any direct responsibility for insulating these properties.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

European Space Agency

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the potential return on investment to the UK arising from its planned investment in the European Space Agency programmes.

Greg Clark: The business case this Department prepared for investment at the December 2014 European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial undertook an economic analysis using data from past space and science interventions and modelled the potential returns from our planned future investment in the ESA programme. This modelling has projected that for every pound of public money invested we will get a return of over £10. The estimates of the future markets which could be accessed by UK industry as a result of the investment are up to £1.5 billion. In 2012/13 the UK space turnover was £11.3 billion with 34,300 employed in the space sector.

EU External Trade: USA

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in which countries in the proposed TTIP trading bloc domestic courts have failed to provide compensation to foreign corporations whose property has been unfairly confiscated or whose contracts have been unfairly terminated; and what the reasons were for compensation not having been given.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not routinely hold information on, or assess the fairness or otherwise of, the compensation decisions of courts in other countries except for individual cases that are brought to our attention by British companies.

Medicine: Education

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons the cap on the number of dental and medical students has not been extended to cover pharmacy students.

Greg Clark: Pharmacy students are funded in the same way as chemistry, biology and other science subjects which will not be subject to a student number control at HEFCE funded institutions in 2015/16. Medicine and dentistry attract a much larger amount of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) grant funding than science subjects like pharmacy. Therefore it would not be appropriate to cap pharmacy student numbers.

Dairy Products: Marketing

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department spent on marketing support for (a) milk and (b) other dairy products in financial years (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14; and if he will make statement.

Jo Swinson: None. I refer my Rt. Hon. Friend to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 December 2014 to question 216512.

Construction: Skilled Workers

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to improve skills in the construction industry.

Nick Boles: Under the auspices of the Construction Leadership Council, the house building industry is developing an action plan to address three immediate priorities: improving the image of house building; attracting back experienced workers who left during the recession; and attracting other workers with relevant skills.   More widely, this Government is making a number of reforms to the skills system to improve skills supply; putting employers in the driving seat and making providers more responsive to their needs. Government is also currently undertaking a triennial review of the way the Construction Industry Training Board operates. CITB is undertaking reforms that will seek to improve the service it delivers to the sector.   In addition, Government believes that a more robust and more visible Government construction procurement pipeline is key to improving investment decisions in construction. We are working to enhance the pipeline to give construction businesses the confidence to upskill staff, to recruit, and to commit to apprenticeships.

Dairy Products

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will bring forward proposals to extend the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator to cover the dairy supply chain.

Jo Swinson: The jurisdiction of the Groceries Code Adjudicator already extends to direct suppliers of the large supermarkets in the dairy supply chain. I have no plans to bring forward proposals to extend its remit.   The Adjudicator was created under the Groceries Adjudicator Act 2013 to oversee and to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The Code applies to the ten largest grocery retailers in the UK; and governs their commercial relationships with their direct suppliers of food, drink and some household goods. It imposes on retailers an over-arching principle of fair dealing with their suppliers; and includes specific provisions governing terms of supply, the timing of payments, and commercial arrangements related to marketing and promotions.   The Code does not extend to pricing, which is the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA can carry out investigations where there is evidence of abuse of a dominant position or market abuse. Whilst the Government does not generally intervene in what businesses charge consumers for their goods and services, we do recognise the concerns over the current pressures on milk prices. That is why the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs brought forward and chaired a meeting of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum last month. Members – including retailer representatives – discussed the recommendations made in the recent independent review of the dairy industry voluntary Code of Practice, one of which was to explore the possibility of expanding adoption of the Code within the supply chain to include retailers.

Disabled Students' Allowances

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Written Statement of 7 April 2014, on higher education student support, what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes announced in that statement on the small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-businesses that provide assistive technology.

Greg Clark: The Government continues to engage extensively with small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-businesses that provide assistive technology. This has been very helpful in enabling us to take account of their views in developing proposals on Disabled Students’ Allowances.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what research his Department has commissioned on the contribution of testing households products and their ingredients on animals to the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills has not commissioned research on the contribution of testing household products and their ingredients on animals to the UK economy.   Animal testing in the UK is licensed through the Home Office.

Construction: Materials

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the production of building materials keeps up with increases in the number of house-build starts.

Nick Boles: The general picture on material supply is one of gradual re-adjustment to the return to growth. Domestic brick production increased by 5.8% during the 12 months to October 2014 and has been augmented by an increase in imports, which is normal at this stage of the economic cycle, because of lead times in raising domestic output.Government is in touch with the building products sector to understand and act on factors affecting building materials production. It is committed to a stable climate for business investment, which is the most important requirement for investment in building materials production.

Diversification: Greater London

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to diversify London's economy; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The Mayor has a statutory responsibility for economic development in the capital. It is for the Mayor, advised by the London Enterprise Panel, to determine priorities for economic development in the capital and to use the resources available to support economic growth in London. Last summer London was awarded £236m from the Local Growth Fund, as part of their Growth Deal. A further £1billion will be awarded to LEPs in the New Year, on a competitive basis.

Bureaucracy: EU Action

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken at a EU level to reduce bureaucracy.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



The Government continues to attach high priority to the reduction of unnecessary EU bureaucracy. We have called on the European Commission to step up its efforts in this area, and we therefore welcome the fact that the Commission has created the new post of First Vice-President (Frans Timmermans) with specific responsibility for Better Regulation across the entire Commission. We succeeded in securing agreement on very positive Conclusions at the 4 December EU Competitiveness Council, which call on the EU institutions to enhance efforts to reduce the overall regulatory burden, and call on the Commission to develop and put in place reduction targets in particularly burdensome areas, especially for SMEs. In addition, as I reported in my Written Ministerial Statement of 6 November (Column 51WS), since October 2013, 10 out of the 30 recommendations of the Business Taskforce report, “Cut EU red tape”, have been achieved, saving businesses over £200 million, as highlighted in the Taskforce’s progress report published last month at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cut-eu-red-tape-business-taskforce-report-one-year-on

Service Industries: EU Action

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress he has made on services liberalisation at an EU level; and if he will make statement.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



Following the introduction of the EU services directive, the UK has been a leader in pushing for consistent implementation across member states. More recently, the UK published a non-paper on further services liberalisation which has been widely shared in Europe. Its recommendations have attracted considerable support. We have seen positive signals on services liberalisation from the new Single Market Commissioner, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, in her keynote speech on 18th November and services liberalisation also features in the Commission’s recently published ‘Investment Plan for Europe’.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions the Groceries Code Adjudicator has met stakeholders engaged in production and processing within the (a) beef and (b) grain industry.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions the Groceries Code Adjudicator has met stakeholders engaged in production and processing within the (a) egg and (b) dairy industry in 2013-14.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions the Groceries Code Adjudicator has met stakeholders engaged in production and processing within the (a) potato- and (b) vegetable-growing industry in 2013-14.

Jo Swinson: Relations with stakeholders in the supply sectors are operational matters for the office of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, which is an independent statutory regulator established by the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013.   The GCA’s first Annual Report for the period ending 31st March 2014 confirms that the Adjudicator had by that date participated in events attended by over 3,000 suppliers and their representative bodies – including those from the dairy, arable and livestock sectors.   The Annual Report may be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322415/10143-GCA-Annual_Report_2014.pdf

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Groceries Code Adjudicator has undertaken research pursuant to the launch of an investigation into issues connected with the (a) beef and (b) grain industry.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Groceries Code Adjudicator has undertaken research pursuant to the launch of an investigation into issues connected with the (a) egg and (b) dairy industry.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Grocery Code Adjudicator has undertaken research pursuant to the launch of an investigation into issues connected with the (a) potato and (b) vegetable-growing industry.

Jo Swinson: The Groceries Code Adjudicator is an independent regulator established under the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013. Decisions relating to the exercise of the Adjudicator’s statutory powers of investigation are therefore matters for the Adjudicator.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Groceries Code Adjudicator will make it his policy to prioritise work relating to the (a) beef and (b) grain industry.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Groceries Code Adjudicator will make it his policy to prioritise work relating to the (a) egg and (b) dairy industry.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Groceries Code Adjudicator will make it his policy to prioritise work relating to the (a) potato- and (b) vegetable-growing industry.

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Groceries Code Adjudicator will make it his policy to prioritise work relating to the poultry industry.

Jo Swinson: The Groceries Code Adjudicator is an independent regulator established under the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 to oversee and enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.   The Adjudicator has a statutory duty to arbitrate disputes under the Code referred to it by direct suppliers; and has the power to conduct an investigation where it has reasonable grounds to suspect that the Code has been breached.   In each case, such decisions relating to the exercise of the Adjudicator’s statutory powers are matters for the Adjudicator. The Adjudicator has published its prioritisation principles in guidance on its investigation and enforcement functions. The guidance may be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325842/GCA_Statutory_Guidance_post_consultation_final_June_14.pdf

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information he holds on the number of occasions on which the Groceries Code Adjudicator has met stakeholders engaged in production and processing in the poultry industry.

Jo Swinson: Relations with stakeholders in the supply sector is an operational matter for the office of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, which is an independent statutory regulator established by the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013.   The Department does not therefore hold the requested information.

Department for International Development

Staff

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) locally engaged and (b) UK-based staff her Department has employed in each country with a DfID office in each year since 2010.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Holding answer received on 04 December 2014



The numbers of Staff Appointed in Country (SAIC) and Home Civil Service (HCS) based in DFID country offices in each year since 2010 are shown in the tables below. The figures are given for March of that year.20102011201220132014LocationHCSSAICHCSSAICHCSSAICHCSSAICHCSSAICAfghanistan32194128373445354034Bangladesh19621264206516771974Bosnia and Herzegovina0401010000Burma6455658111018Burundi3334330000Cambodia6810000000Caribbean910898101211129China*718412410410410Democratic Republic Of Congo14301830213624402946Ethiopia18361642234726601975Gambia0000101000Ghana9251223142713331134India19861781208618861790Indonesia**3846000000Iraq5141110000Kenya***17372238334236503852Kosovo2132111100000Kyrgyzstan2626060000Lesotho1010001000Liberia****1100001000Malawi1030926123210371040Moldova0404000000Mozambique9228269299251325Nepal14351337174016421343Nigeria24502358336835713677OPTs9677991012612Overseas Territories6321515221Pakistan20372837315533594159Rwanda1215111792712301529Serbia0501010000Sierra Leone1119922132116291731South Africa12211021171921172220South Sudan000017152018620Sudan14101623121313131316Tajikistan2727174747Tanzania13201419192321292432Uganda1123102411289332335Vietnam518519519319316Yemen4443243323Zambia10221319152316291632Zimbabwe921921121913191518   *Our office in China works with the Chinese government to help reduce poverty in other developing countries. In March 2011 DFID closed its bilateral aid programme to China.   ** In March 2011, DFID closed its poverty reduction programme and the DFID country office in Indonesia.   *** DFID Somalia was run out of the DFID Kenya office until April 2014   **** DFID’s programmes in Liberia are run from the Sierra Leone office.

British Overseas Territories

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2014 to Question 215721, if she will place in the Library the calculation which found that the cost of providing the information requested in that Question was disproportionate.

Mr Desmond Swayne: A sizeable number of files would need to be reviewed to answer this question. DFID’s database shows over 500 files for the department which dealt with the Overseas Territories for file period 1995/97 alone. It costs £1.50 to access each file. The costs associated with archive research covering the period 1994 to 2004 would therefore be considerable. In addition to financial costs there would also be substantial associated staff costs with carrying out this archive research.   On the basis of the disproportionate cost threshold for written questions, it was assessed that this information could not be collated without incurring disproportionate cost.

Kashmir

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid the Government provided to Indian-administered Kashmir after the floods of September 2014.

Mr Desmond Swayne: No request for assistance was made by the Indian Government. A decision to not provide support was taken following a comprehensive assessment. The immediate humanitarian crisis is now over and compensation for those impacted by the floods has been announced by the Government.

Department for Education

Science: Education

Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to the Your Life campaign promoting take-up of maths and science subjects.

Nicky Morgan: The Your Life campaign is independently led, with sponsorship from business, and backed by strong support across Government. It is a three-year campaign to ensure the UK has the maths and science skills it needs to succeed in a competitive global economy.A 2014 CBI/Pearson report found that STEM skills are in widespread demand and nearly two in five firms that need employees with STEM skills and knowledge currently have difficulties recruiting staff.It is essential that students leave school as fully-rounded individuals, with experience of a broad and balanced curriculum to prepare them for life in modern Britain. Maths and science are valuable skills to have, no matter what they choose to pursue.

Pre-school Education

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to assist high-quality and in-demand nurseries provide more places.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education have taken a number of actions as part of the Government’s plan to increase the supply and affordability of childcare. The Department has extended free early learning places to around 260,000 two-year-olds from September 2014. Low income working parents can already benefit from support through the childcare element of working tax credit. Once Universal Credit is introduced this will rise to 85% of costs. From autumn 2015 almost 2 million families could benefit from a new tax free childcare scheme, worth up to £2,000 per child which will expand support for affordable childcare and stimulate demand. We are investing £50 million through a new Early Years Pupil Premium to support the early education of disadvantaged children. Our reforms to the role of local authorities have reduced unnecessary bureaucracy and improved consistency in accessing Government funding. All providers judged ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and providers newly registered with Ofsted are guaranteed early education funding making it easier for existing providers to expand their business and new providers to enter the market. We have relaxed planning rules so that non-domestic early years childcare providers can deliver additional and high quality places to meet increasing demand allowing premises previously used for offices, hotels, non-residential institutions, and leisure and assembly purposes to be able to change use to nurseries. We are exploring local authorities’ use of their discretionary rate relief powers to support business rates costs falling to childcare providers.We have brought forward legislation to enable providers to register multiple premises in a single registration process so, for example, a nursery chain can notify Ofsted of its intention to open a number of new settings in a single registration process. We have also brought forward legislation to remove the requirement for schools to register separately with Ofsted to take two-year-olds and are supporting partnership working between schools and private and voluntary providers.  We know that high-quality childcare has a powerful impact on children’s outcomes, particularly the most disadvantaged children. That is why we are driving up standards through a stronger inspection framework, and focusing Local Authority support on weaker providers and improving the skills and status of the workforce.

Financial Services: Education

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to include financial education in the new GCSE Citizenship curriculum.

Mr Nick Gibb: Proposed content for the new Citizenship Studies GCSE was published for consultation on 25 September and the consultation closed on 20 November. The proposals include the requirement that GCSE specifications should enable students to “know and understand how taxes are raised and spent by governments, and how national economic and financial policies and decisions relate to individuals”. The Department for Education is currently considering the consultation responses received, and final decisions on the detailed content of the new GCSE will be taken and published in the new year.Citizenship education is, of course, part of the national curriculum. The new programmes of study, from September 2014, require schools to prepare pupils to manage their money well and make sound financial decisions.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the capacity of her Department's buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has assessed the feasibility of introducing renewable energy generation across its estate, and a range of micro-generation technologies have already been installed. In addition, as part of the Department’s proposed relocation to Old Admiralty Building in Central London in 2017, a renewable energy generation assessment is being undertaken. A solar water heating system and solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels are in use at the London and Sheffield offices respectively, along with ground source heating at the Coventry office. The Department’s new office in Darlington, currently under construction by Darlington Borough Council, has also incorporated solar PV in the base-build. The Department has also proposed that a number of its sites could be included in the Cabinet Office-led project for introducing further solar PV on the Government estate. Parallel to work on renewable energy generation, the Department has implemented a more comprehensive Carbon Reduction programme, which has led to a 38% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions since 2009-10. This has primarily been achieved through low and no cost energy efficiency measures, and operating offices more efficiently. In taking this action, we have reduced the annual energy bill by £1.4 million since 2009-10, and we continue to work towards identifying even greater efficiencies.

Teachers

Mr Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time teachers working in publicly-funded schools were not working in the same role at the same school 12 months later in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr David Laws: The information is not available in the format requested.Information on teacher retention is currently derived from the Database of Teacher Records (DTR). However, this data source does not provide the information as requested.

Teachers

Mr Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in special measures employed newly-qualified teachers in (a) Gravesham, (b) Kent and (c) England in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: The information is not available in the format requested.

Home Education

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representative bodies for home education took part in the recent discussions with her Department.

Mr Nick Gibb: Meetings have been held by Departmental officials with: the policy committee of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services; officers of Darlington Borough Council; the children’s services scrutiny committee of the City of Westminster; and two regional forums of local authority elective home education officers, one for London and the South East and the other for the West Midlands.

Home Education

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations on issues other than safeguarding her Department she has received from bodies representing home schooling.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has had no representations recently from bodies representing home schooling.

Free Schools

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2014 to Question 211963, for what reasons she agreed a derogation from the Admissions Code in respect of each of the 54 free schools referred to in the Answer.

Mr Edward Timpson: Further to my response to Question 211963, I replied to your Question 215695 on 1 December listing the (now) 56 free schools (including University Technical Colleges) where the Secretary of State has agreed specific freedoms. The reasons for agreeing these freedoms are listed below:Permission to prioritise admission of children of staff without having to meet the two-year qualification set out in the Admissions Code: granted to enable free schools to recruit good quality staff quickly, to benefit all pupils.Permission to prioritise admission of pupils eligible for the pupil premium: granted prior to the Secretary of State extending that freedom to all academies and free schools.Permission has been granted for three UTCs to adopt two admission numbers for entry, in order to balance entry to each of their distinct technical specialisms to recognise the availability of specialised provision.Permission to prioritise admission of founders’ children: granted only to schools where individual founders have played a material role in setting up the free school and where they continue to be involved in the running of the school.Meridian Angel Primary School was permitted to admit a group of displaced children who were being taught as a temporary measure in the local primary school’s annex.

Special Educational Needs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the extent to which families can access Local Offers from different local authority areas.

Mr Edward Timpson: Each local offer must include information about the provision the local authority expects to be available in its area for children and young people who have special educational needs or a disability and the provision it expects to be available outside its area for children and young people for whom it is responsible.The provision to be included comprises education, health and care provision; other educational provision; training provision; arrangements for travel to and from schools and post-16 institutions and provision to assist in preparing children and young people for adulthood and independent living.  All Local Authorities have published their local offer in accordance with such requirements.

Schools: Inspections

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) local authority-controlled primary schools, (b) local authority-controlled secondary schools, (c) primary academies, (d) secondary academies and (e) free schools were inspected by Ofsted in each local authority area in each relevant year since 2005.

Mr David Laws: This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

Social Workers: Training

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many social workers her Department estimates will be trained through (a) Frontline and (b) Step-Up in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17.

Mr Edward Timpson: The Department for Education estimates that 103 participants are set to qualify as social workers in 2015-16 and up to 132 participants in 2016-17 through Frontline. The Department for Education estimates that up to 303 participants are set to qualify as social workers in 2015-16 and up to 400 participants in 2016- through Step Up to Social Work.  This Government have recently announced an expansion of schemes like Frontline and Step Up to Social Work as part of a wider drive to improve the quality of social work.

Offences against Children

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many cases of abuse against children in which alcohol was a causal factor were reported in the last 10 years.

Mr Edward Timpson: The available data relates to the number of assessments carried out, in England, by children’s social care where ‘alcohol abuse’ has been identified as being a risk factor. This information was collected for the first time in 2014, covering April 2013 to March 2014. The data is available in the statistical first release ‘Characteristics of children in need in England, 2013 to 2014’ and is available in table A6 in the National and local authority tables at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2013-to-2014

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Ministers of Religion

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) adult and (b) youth secure estate establishments have imams.

Andrew Selous: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 18 November 2014.The correct answer should have been:

There were a total of 70 adult prisons which had one or more directly employed Muslim chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 65% of all adult establishments. 14 establishments in the youth secure estate had one or more directly employed Muslim Chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 93% of the establishments. This information includes both public and private sector establishments. Access to Muslim Chaplains is more widespread than it appears from these figures. There are 393 imams employed across the prison estate, and the majority of establishments have access to Muslim Chaplains even if they don’t have a directly employed Muslim Chaplain attached to the establishment.100 imams employed across the prison estate and additionally over 100 Muslim Chaplains appointed on a sessional basis. All prisons have multi faith chaplaincy teams to provide and enable religious and pastoral care. These teams invariably include at least one Muslim Chaplain to provide for the religious needs of the Muslim prisoners. There are however one or two prisons where it has not yet been possible to appoint a Muslim Chaplain and the Muslim Adviser is working to appoint these. Where possible, an existing Muslim Chaplain, or one of the Muslim Chaplaincy HQ Advisers, aim to lead the prayers in those prisons on an occasional basis.

Andrew Selous: There were a total of 70 adult prisons which had one or more directly employed Muslim chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 65% of all adult establishments. 14 establishments in the youth secure estate had one or more directly employed Muslim Chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 93% of the establishments. This information includes both public and private sector establishments. Access to Muslim Chaplains is more widespread than it appears from these figures. There are 393 imams employed across the prison estate, and the majority of establishments have access to Muslim Chaplains even if they don’t have a directly employed Muslim Chaplain attached to the establishment.100 imams employed across the prison estate and additionally over 100 Muslim Chaplains appointed on a sessional basis. All prisons have multi faith chaplaincy teams to provide and enable religious and pastoral care. These teams invariably include at least one Muslim Chaplain to provide for the religious needs of the Muslim prisoners. There are however one or two prisons where it has not yet been possible to appoint a Muslim Chaplain and the Muslim Adviser is working to appoint these. Where possible, an existing Muslim Chaplain, or one of the Muslim Chaplaincy HQ Advisers, aim to lead the prayers in those prisons on an occasional basis.

Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how often his Department reviews its processes regarding the logging of emails, letters and other correspondence received; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice uses an in-house data-handling system to log correspondence and assign it to the appropriate team for a response. The team that coordinates responses to the majority of correspondence gather briefly each day to manage their workload. This can involve suggestions from team members for improving processes, including logging. They meet more formally once a month, when improvements can also be proposed. The team meets once a fortnight with Ministers' private offices to review how correspondence is handled and issues monthly management information to members of the senior civil service responsible for correspondence handling in their teams, to focus on performance. The Department has a 15 working-day target to respond to Members. Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations is available online at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf

Insolvency

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect of the reforms to insolvency litigation in Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on tackling director misconduct and the return of money owed to small businesses.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Ministers are regularly in touch about matters in which they have a common interest. The changes in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 are not expected to have any impact on directors that are disqualified.

Water

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce water (a) usage and (b) bills in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to reducing water consumption. In 2013/14 the MoJ reduced its water consumption by 4% against a 2009/10 baseline. We are achieving this by installing efficiency devices on taps, timers in showers, motion sensor flush systems and running behavioural change campaigns. Reducing both water consumption and the cost of water forms an important part of our strategy to deliver savings within the MoJ estate.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Departmental buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. On the MoJ estate there are already a number of renewable micro-generation projects including at Leeds Combined Court and HM Prisons: Haslar; Holloway; Lindholme; Maidstone; Portland; Wayland; Werrington and Wetherby. Micro-generation is often found to be less efficient than other energy reduction projects such as insulation and lighting improvements. The Department continues to prioritise the most cost-effective projects in order to achieve the best value for money.

Coroners

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the timeliness of the provision of toxicological analysis by LGC Forensics to coroners in England and Wales.

Simon Hughes: Operational responsibility for coroner services lies with local authorities and any assessment of the timeliness of toxicological analysis by LGC Forensics is a matter for them. The Ministry of Justice has responsibility only for coroner law and policy. It has not made, and would not make such an assessment.

Legal Aid Scheme

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the firm Mackeys received in legal aid in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; how much in legal aid to this firm is currently outstanding for 2014-15; and to whom such money will now be paid.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Legal Aid Agency did not hold a contract with a firm called Mackeys for the period in question and therefore no payments were made and there are no payments outstanding.

Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 13 October 2014, Official Report, column 13WS, on Our Commitment to Victims, what (a) victims' and victims' support charities and (b) other organisations his Department consulted before making that statement.

Mike Penning: My Department worked very closely with criminal justice organisations and other stakeholders before publishing “Our Commitment to Victims” on 15 September 2014. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and I have listened to the views of the Victims’ Panel, which we set up so that those who have been affected by crime can tell us directly how the criminal justice system could better serve victims. We have also worked closely with the Victims’ Commissioner since her appointment. My Department also developed “Our Commitment to Victims” in close cooperation with other Government Departments, the Crown Prosecution Service, the police, and the criminal justice inspectorates. Key stakeholders including the Bar Council and the Law Society, and representatives of Victim Support’s Witness Service contributed to my Department’s report, ‘Review of ways to reduce distress of victims in trials of sexual violence’, published on 31 March 2014, which formed the requirement for publicly funded advocates to undertake approved specialist training on working with vulnerable victims and witnesses announced in “Our Commitment to Victims”.In our response to the “Getting it right for Victims’ and Witnesses” public consultation, published in 2012, we said we would look at the options for a Victims’ Law but that reform must begin with a more effective Victims’ Code. In “Our Commitment to Victims” we have committed to introduce a Victims’ Law.

Prisoners on Remand: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have been remanded from courts in North Wales into police cells in the last six months.

Andrew Selous: The information requested is not collected centrally in this form. To provide it, we would need to undertake a manual examination of individual records of prisoner journeys in North Wales. This could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.Police cells are not normally used to accommodate prisoners remanded or sentenced by the courts. However, circumstances can exceptionally occur – for example where there is major traffic disruption owing to bad weather or other causes – in which it is not possible, at the end of the court proceedings, to complete a journey to a prison in the time available.

Probation

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of out-sourcing probation services in reducing re-offending rates.

Andrew Selous: Our Transforming Rehabilitation reforms will tackle the problem of persistently high reoffending rates by opening up the delivery of rehabilitation services to a diverse range of public, private and voluntary sector providers. Providers will only be paid in full if they are successful at reducing reoffending. We are also putting in place an unprecedented ‘through the gate’ resettlement service giving most offenders continuous support by one provider from custody into the community. Rehabilitation support is also being extended to an extra 45,000 offenders on sentences of less than 12 months, who currently get no support on release and have the highest reoffending rates. As part of the reforms, transition to new probation structures took place on 1 June 2014 and the National Probation Service and 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies are now live. The 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies remain in public ownership while the competition to establish their new owners progresses. We will be able to assess the impact of the reforms on reoffending rates once we have transitioned service provision to the new providers. A significant step towards completing these reforms was taken on 5 December as we awarded contracts to the organisations that will lead a new approach to rehabilitation. There was strong competition for each of the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies, with bids showing real innovation. Nineteen of the 21 contract areas will be led by new partnerships and joint ventures between private sector firms and some of Britain’s biggest and most successful rehabilitation charities. Six will be run with the involvement of a probation staff “mutual”. We expect new providers to be in place by early next year, in line with the Government’s commitment to introduce these reforms by 2015.

Ministry of Defence

South Atlantic

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what ships have been assigned to Atlantic Patrol Tasking North for what duration in the last five years.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 01 December 2014



The information requested is provided below:   ShipAtlantic Patrol Task (North) - Period of DutyHMS MANCHESTERMay 2010 - December 2010RFA WAVE RULERMay 2010 - December 2011RFA FORTROSALIEDecember 2011 - July 2012RFA ARGUSMay 2012 - December 2012RFA WAVE KNIGHTJanuary 2013 - April 2014HMS LANCASTERJune 2013 - December 2013RFA BLACK ROVERJanuary 2014 - February 2014HMS ARGYLLJune 2014 - December 2014HMS SEVERN8 December 2014 to date

Afghanistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sorties were flown by RAF Reaper Remotely Piloted Air Systems, in Afghanistan in each year since 2008.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 03 December 2014



The number of sorties flown by RAF Reaper Remotely Piloted Air Systems in Afghanistan each year since 2008 can be found in the following table:YearTotal Reaper Sorties[1]2008296200943420107592011916201290420139072014 up to 15 November 20141046Total5262The figures for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 show marginal differences from those reported by my hon. Friend the former Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr Robathan) on 5 September 2013 (Official Report, columns 480-481W) following a routine revision to the Air Warfare Centre's operational activity database.[1] A sortie is defined as a single flight by a single aircraft irrespective of flight duration.

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial and logistical support has been provided to Afghan nationals who have provided contract translation services to UK military and medical auxiliary personnel since 2001 but are no longer in the employ of the armed forces of British authorities in Afghanistan; and what assistance is provided to assist such translators in applying for political asylum in the UK in circumstances where they face death threats in Afghanistan.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



We recognise the dangerous work undertaken by our patrol interpreters in the course of their employment and, for those who were still serving when drawdown of the operation was announced, this is reflected in the terms of the ex-gratia redundancy scheme. The scheme is additional to the contractual redundancy entitlement and provides a generous in-country package of training and financial support for up to five years; or, a financial payment equivalent to 18 months' salary; or, for those who fulfil additional eligibility criteria by working on the frontline in Helmand (largely interpreters), the opportunity to apply for relocation to the UK.This meets the Afghan Government's concern that we should support the country's development and avoid precipitating a 'brain-drain'. But it also recognises the debt we owe to these people.We take the safety of current and former local staff very seriously, and they are encouraged to raise with us any concerns about their safety arising from their employment. Such concerns are thoroughly investigated by a professional team on the ground in Afghanistan, and are addressed under our Intimidation Policy.The majority of cases of intimidation are addressed through in-country measures, for example, by providing security advice or in some cases relocation within Afghanistan. In the most extreme cases, the policy provides for relocation of the member of staff and their immediate family to the UK. This is through a bespoke immigration mechanism, separate from UK asylum arrangements.The monitoring of staff who have left our employment indicates that they currently face a low risk to their safety as a result of their employment with the UK, and that this further recedes over time.

Armed Forces: Personal Records

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provisions his Department has put in place to allow research groups to access military records.

Anna Soubry: The public can gain access to Departmental information in three main ways: through access to information published under the Department's publication scheme; through scrutiny at The National Archives, following its release under the terms of the Public Records Act; or under the general access provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Department's buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Micro-generation of renewable energy is being used on the defence estate but no assessment has been made of the potential capacity for the Department's buildings. Micro-generation is one of a range of options available and investment decisions are based on value for money criteria.

Afghanistan

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2014 to Question 209575, whether the Government has had any discussions with the administration of the US on future basing of UK Reapers in Afghanistan in connection with Operation Resolute Support 2015.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



Further to my answer of 15 October 2014 to Question 209575, the UK has withdrawn all of its remotely piloted air systems from Afghanistan and has no plans to return them.

Armed Forces: Credit Unions

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2014 to Question 208271, what steps he plans to take to (a) encourage members of the armed forces to join a credit union, (b) establish a military credit union and (c) provide payroll deduction for those wanting to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: As the hon. Member is aware, I fully endorse the expansion of existing, strong credit unions to the Armed Forces community and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has for many months been working to bring this about.As part of this initiative, the MOD's payroll provider is working with officials to scope and cost payroll deductions for a credit union. Further work is underway to determine the criteria for access to this facility, and to develop an education campaign for our personnel to enable them to make informed choices.We anticipate this complex work will be completed during summer 2015.

Stewart McLaughlin

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2014 to Question HL2898, when he expects the re-examining of the case of the late Corporal McLaughlin to be completed.

Anna Soubry: Re-examination of the case will be concluded by the end of the year and I hope to report our conclusions in early January.

Department for Work and Pensions

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Departmental buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: DWP has outsourced the provision of its estate until 31st March 2018 under a 20-year PFI contract with its private sector partner Telereal Trillium. Telereal Trillium’s technical experts have undertaken regular extensive reviews (both site based and desk-top studies) of the Department’s estate with a view to assessing the practical and financial viability of investing in micro-generation. These have included: • solar photo-voltaic and wind turbine generation of electricity; and • solar and bio-mass generation of heat. Following this review 18 sites were identified for a site visit and more detailed examination by Telereal Trillium’s technical experts and potential suppliers. Detailed business cases were then developed for the biomass sites offering the quickest payback and with the potential to meet the Department’s investment criteria. Unfortunately, although these sites offered a practical means of generating renewable energy they did not meet the Department’s investment criteria and so have not been pursued. Solar photo-voltaic and wind turbine generation projects had even longer payback periods. The Department also commissioned EDF to undertake independent surveys at five sites. These confirmed the results of the work undertaken by Telereal Trillium’s technical experts in that the break-even periods were too long to meet the Department’s investment criteria. Telereal Trillium are continuing to assess whether reductions in costs and/or improvements in technology will improve the financial viability of micro-generation.

Funeral Payments

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to review the process for applying for funeral payments.

Steve Webb: We are currently taking steps to improve the scheme and will continue to monitor its effectiveness.

State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of unfreezing state pensions for British citizens living in Commonwealth countries; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pensions paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. Namely to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. There are no plans to change policy on this issue.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances benefit claimants are permitted to undertake paid work which is regarded as therapeutic.

Mr Mark Harper: A person who is entitled to Employment and Support Allowance and who does any work will normally be treated as not having limited capability for work and will lose their entitlement accordingly. However, under existing provisions, there are types of work that a claimant can do without losing their benefit entitlement. This is called ‘exempt work’ (more commonly referred to as ‘permitted work’).  The categories of exempt work are Permitted Work; Voluntary Work and work done in a Work Placement. There are four types of permitted work. · Permitted Work Lower Level: work for no more than £20 a week at any time for as long as the person is on benefit; · Permitted Work Higher Level: work for less than 16 hours a week with earnings of no more than £104.00 a week for a fixed period of 52 weeks with the aim of progressing to work of more than 16 hours per week;  · Permitted Work Higher Level Subsequent: at the end of the 52 week period of PWHL, if they have not progressed to work of more than 16 hours, claimants can continue to work for no more than £20 per week. After a gap of 52 weeks customers can undertake a subsequent period of 52 weeks at the higher level; · Supported Permitted Work: claimants can work for no more than £104.00 a week for as long as they are on benefit if they have a disability which is unlikely to improve over time and they need regular and on going support or supervision in the work place in order to make as much progress as they can towards full-time work. A person is able to work and earn up to and including £104.00 a week indefinitely where their work is supervised by someone who is employed by a public or local authority, or a voluntary organisation whose job it is to arrange work for people with disabilities. A person can only do one type of Permitted Work at any one time and there are rules which cover the length of time that claimants may undertake each category, and the amount they can earn.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances claimants of employment and support allowance are permitted to retain their benefit while undertaking voluntary work.

Mr Mark Harper: A person can do voluntary work as long as they do not receive any payment other than reasonable expenses. The work can be for a charitable or voluntary organisation, for example, or any other type of volunteering as long as it is not for a relative.

Social Security Benefits: Voluntary Work

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements his Department has in place with the voluntary sector to enable benefit claimants to undertake voluntary work.

Esther McVey: We believe that volunteering can play an important part in the life of unemployed people – not only by improving their chances of securing paid work but also through providing valuable support to their communities. Claimants can therefore do unlimited voluntary work whilst claiming benefits, providing they continue to meet all the usual entitlement conditions, although volunteers are allowed additional time to make themselves available for interviews and to take-up employment.

Employment and Support Allowance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who have been found fit for work following a work capability assessment have reapplied for employment and support allowance within (a) 12, (b) 24 and (c) 36 months.

Mr Mark Harper: The information as requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Employment and Support Allowance

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of people claiming employment and support allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Harper: Statistics on the number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool   Guidance for users is available at:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increased number of claimants of employment and support allowance receiving benefit sanctions since mid-2013.

Mr Mark Harper: The number of ESA claimants referred to the Work Programme has increased by more than half over the last 2 years and as such we would expect to see a consequential increase in sanction referrals as more people join the programme. ESA claimants are not sanctioned for not finding or taking up work and all activities claimants are referred to must be reasonable given their circumstances and capabilities. In any month less than 1% of ESA claimants are sanctioned. Evidence suggests that work and work related activity is good for people with health conditions. Through the Work Programme ESA claimants have access to the support they need to improve their skills and move closer to the labour market. With this increased support, comes increased expectations and where claimants fail to meet reasonable requirements, proportionate sanctions are applied.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government's commitment in its response to the Oakley Review, Cm 8904, to strengthen guidance so that hardship provision is clear upfront to all claimants who are sanctioned, what progress has been made in strengthening such guidance; and whether the planned implementation date of August 2014 was achieved.

Esther McVey: In response to the recommendation we implemented improvements to the hardship process in July 2014 which includes strengthened guidance for work coaches. All claimants will be informed about how and when they can make an application for hardship payment following a conditionality doubt.

Unemployment: Young People

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of levels of youth unemployment.

Esther McVey: Youth unemployment has fallen nearly a quarter of a million over the last year – the second largest annual fall on record – down to 737,000.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of municipal waste in England and Wales that will be disposed at energy from waste facilities in 2014-15.

Dan Rogerson: The latest statistical data published by Defra this November, which can be found at the link below, shows that local authority managed waste going for incineration with energy recovery was 6.2 million tonnes in 2013/14 in England. This could increase to around 7.6 million tonnes in 2014/15 based on capacity that is operational or in construction. Defra does not hold the equivalent data for Wales. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/375945/Statistics_Notice_Nov_2014_Final__3_.pdf

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the capacity of the waste recovery industry to recover end-of-life products from air pollution control residues in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has not carried out an assessment of the capacity of the waste recovery industry to recover products that may contain air pollution control residues.

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of air pollution control residues that will be captured in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16 by energy from waste facilities.

Dan Rogerson: Defra has made no estimate of the amount of air pollution control residues that will be captured in 2014-15 and 2015-16 by energy from waste facilities.

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of air pollution control residues that will be disposed of by an alternative route in 2015-16 in the event that the Government proceeds with the removal of the derogation in the Waste Framework Directive that allows air pollution control residues to be disposed to hazardous landfill.

Dan Rogerson: No information has been collected to inform an estimate of waste producers’ plans for managing their air pollution control residues (APCr) in future.The Environment Agency consulted on proposals to remove derogations from landfill site permits that allow disposal of APCr which do not meet waste acceptance criteria at landfill sites for hazardous waste. This consultation also sought information on available and planned recovery and disposal capacity.Current capacity for treating/disposing of APCr is estimated at around 400,000 tonnes. Of this capacity, 47% was for disposal in landfill for hazardous waste.Based upon the consultation responses, capacity for treating/disposing of APCr is estimated to rise to more than 700,000 tonnes by the end of 2016, 38% of which would be for disposal in landfills for hazardous waste.

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will estimate the amount of dioxin and furan that would be dispersed into the domestic built environment from recovered air pollution control residues as a consequence of the Environment Agency accepting End of Waste status for use in breeze blocks if the derogation in the waste framework directive allowing air pollution control residues to be disposed to hazardous landfill is removed.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency considers that some concrete block products from a particular process containing air pollution controls residues (APCr) are no longer waste. The environmental risk assessment for this was for a bound use of the APCr in blocks, rather than unbound. Research supporting the case showed that, bound within the block, measurable levels were not released. Where blocks were drilled, the exposure level of dioxins into the air was below World Health Organisation exposure limits.

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to the waste recovery industry of building capacity to recover end-of-life products from air pollution control residues in 2015-16 if the derogation in the Waste Framework Directive allowing air pollution control residues to be disposed to hazardous landfill is removed.

Dan Rogerson: Defra has not made any estimate regarding the cost to the waste recovery industry of the withdrawal of this derogation. Should there be any proposal to remove the derogation, this would be subject to an impact assessment.

Waste Disposal

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the tonnes of air pollution control residues that will be recovered as an end-of-life product in 2015-16 if the derogation in the Waste Framework Directive allowing air pollution control residues to be disposed to hazardous landfill is removed.

Dan Rogerson: The current capacity in England to recover air pollution residues into end of waste products is approximately 40,000 tonnes.  The EA does not collect the commercial information required to make an estimate.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the capacity of her Department's buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if she will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: A key aspect of core Defra’s construction and major refurbishment projects is consideration and incorporation of renewable energy technologies where viable. The Department’s Alnwick office construction in 2009 used a wind turbine, solar photovolataic panels and a biomass boiler. A major refurbishment of the York office (2008) included solar thermal panels.The Department’s London headquarters building, Nobel House, was refurbished in 2012. The building had previously been assessed, in 2010, for renewable energy technologies but was not considered suitable due to the building’s position, aspect and listed status.

Dairy Farming

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the possibility of establishing a dairy futures market and (b) other options in reducing price volatility in the dairy industry; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: I had a constructive discussion on the potential for developing futures markets at the Dairy Supply Chain Forum on 19 November. There is scope to develop some of the embryonic markets we already have in skimmed milk powder in the UK. By building on what currently exists and by improving accessibility, it may help to manage the inherent volatility in the marketplace. Membersof the Dairy Supply Chain Forum are exploring how this could be achieved and the NFU will report on progress in the New Year. These issues are also being explored through the joint Defra/Industry Farming Resilience Group, which I chair. The next meeting will take place in January 2015. On its website, DairyCo provides domestic dairy farmers with a range of educational materials and guidance on futures markets and other forms of price risk management.

Floods: Thames Valley

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to improve flood defences in the Thames Valley in 2014.

Dan Rogerson: Since the 2013/14 winter flooding, over £3 million has been spent on work to restore flood defence assets in the Thames Valley and Surrey areas to help reduce the risk of flooding to communities. This has included completing eight flood defence repair projects and capital works on two weirs (Molesey and Godstow). The Environment Agency has also carried out repairs to damage on three Thames weirs, including removal of trees and blockages, and shoal clearance works across twenty sites through the Lower Thames.During this year, the Environment Agency has also made progress in developing two large-scale flood alleviation schemes:- The Oxford to Abingdon scheme, reducing flood risk to over 1,000 properties; and- The River Thames scheme, reducing flood risk to over 15,000 homes and businesses and significant local infrastructure around Teddington to Datchet.An indicative allocation of £297m of Grant in Aid has been allocated to projects within the Thames RFCC are over the next 6 years. These projects will better protect at least 25,000 households by 2021. It is planned to start the construction of 36 projects by April 2016 with a further 126 projects in development and the pipeline for construction in future years.

Dairy Farming

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the Russian ban on EU agricultural products on the British dairy industry; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The UK has been monitoring the Russian ban on EU agricultural products closely since it came into effect on 7 August. We are continuing to work closely with trade associations and industry to minimise the potential impact of the ban on businesses.Of the £1.1bn of EU dairy product lines exported to Russia in 2013, the most affected countries are The Netherlands (£218m), Finland (£215m) Lithuania (£135m) and Germany (£135m). Cheese is the main product that has been affected (£826m), in particular produce from The Netherlands (£197m), Germany (£120m) and Lithuania (£115m). In comparison, the UK exported £5.8m of cheese to Russia in 2013.The Commission has announced market support measures for the dairy industry in response to the ban.

Dairy Products: Imports

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce UK dependence on imported dairy products; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: We have worked closely with the dairy industry to produce the ‘Leading the Way’ Growth Plan, launched in June 2014. The Plan aims to eliminate the dairy deficit by value by 2025, including growing the UK’s share of the domestic market by displacing imports. We discussed the Growth Plan and how industry might address the dairy trade deficit at the Dairy Supply Chain Forum on 19 November 2014. The industry steering group set up to oversee progress on the Growth Plan will report on this in the New Year.   By making improvements to the public procurement process the Government is making it easier for local suppliers to access the public sector market. We are pushing the case at EU level for better country of origin labelling. This would benefit the UK dairy industry in a number of ways, including requiring British cheeses to be made from British milk

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to insulate her Departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if she will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Insulation surveys were carried out across all core Defra’s buildings in 2011 and window frame draught proofing installed at both Nobel House, London and Kings Pool, York. More recently, in 2013, all ceiling void and wall insulation was replaced throughout Nobel House.

Tidal Power

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential for tidal lagoons which are connected to the land to reduce the risk of flooding.

Dan Rogerson: Defra’s guidance recommends that all options should be appraised when considering potential solutions to flood risk. The potential for options will depend on the impacts, including the costs and the benefits, of each option on a case by case basis.

Porpoises: Conservation

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she or her ministerial colleagues have made to the government of Mexico on steps to protect the vaquita from extinction.

George Eustice: At my request, the UK Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) raised the critically endangered status of the vaquita at the IWC meeting in September 2014, as well as in bilateral meetings with Mexican officials. The UK commended the efforts and progress made by the Mexican Government in tackling this issue and urged it to continue its important work.   The UK also announced a donation to the IWC Small Cetaceans Fund, which supports research projects, including on the vaquita.

White Fish: Conservation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take in collaboration with the devolved administrations to preserve sea bass stocks to ensure that a sustainable recreational angling sector is created throughout the UK.

George Eustice: The conservation of sea bass stocks will be an important issue at the December Council of the European Union fisheries ministers. We are working with the Devolved Administrations to secure the best possible agreement at the Council for both recreational and commercial catchers of sea bass.

Home Office

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) nationality, (b) offence committed and (c) completed sentence is of each foreign national offender.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is shown in the following tables.   



Tables 1-3 FNO caseload
(Excel SpreadSheet, 222.87 KB)

Crimes of Violence: Lambeth

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce violence against women and girls in the London Borough of Lambeth; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Coalition Government has made the tackling of violence against women and girls a high priority. Our approach is set out in our strategy, ‘Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls’ published in November 2010, together with a supporting Action Plan. A revised version of the Action Plan was published in March 2014 and contains 150 actions across Government departments.For the first time, this Government has put stable funding in place, ring-fencing nearly £40 million for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, and national helplines. This includes £20,000 funding provided by the Home Office for the provision of an Independent Domestic Violence Adviser at Mosaic in Lambeth, £15,000 to Lambeth Council towards Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) provision and £20,000 to Eaves Housing towards provision for an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor. Through the Female Rape Support Fund 2014-16 the Ministry of Justice provides £70,000 per annum to Rape Crisis South London to support female victims of rape or sexual violence.

Crimes of Violence

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to ensure that a multi-agency approach is taken to address gender-based violence; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Coalition Government has made the tackling of violence against women and girls a high priority. Our approach is set out in our strategy, ‘Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls’ published in November 2010, together with a supporting Action Plan. A revised version of the Action Plan was published in March 2014 and contains 150 actions across Government departments.The Home Secretary chairs the Inter-Ministerial Group on violence against women and girls which meets quarterly and oversees the co-ordination of cross-departmental activity to tackle violence against women and girls.For the first time, this Government has put stable funding in place, ring-fencing nearly £40 million for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, and national helplines. Local domestic and sexual abuse co-ordinators provide an important local strategic lead on this issue, linking statutory and voluntary partner agencies and promoting and improving multi-agency approaches to tackling sexual and domestic violence.In July, we published a report to share findings from the Home Office funded project to better understand the multi-agency information sharing models that are in place. These models, the most common of which is referred to as a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), aim to improve the safeguarding response for children and vulnerable adults through better information sharing and high quality and timely safeguarding responses.

Female Genital Mutilation

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests there have been in (a) Lambeth, (b) Greater London and (c) the UK related to female genital mutilation; and how many such arrests have led to prosecution.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support she gives to local authorities to tackle female genital mutilation; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support she gives to the police to tackle female genital mutilation; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of incidents of female genital mutilation that were carried out on women and girls residing in (a) Lambeth, (b) Greater London and (c) the UK in each of the last three years.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the number of arrests and prosecutions related to female genital mutilation.

Lynne Featherstone: Female genital mutilation is an extremely harmful practice which the government is committed to tackling. We are strengthening the law on FGM. The Serious Crime Bill includes provisions to extend extra-territorial jurisdiction over offences of FGM committed abroad, to provide lifelong anonymity for victims of FGM, and to create a new offence of failing to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. We are also introducing a new civil protection order to protect victims or potential victims of FGM.We are improving the police response to FGM working with the College of Policing and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary. The College of Policing is introducing a new authorised professional practice on FGM to raise awareness amongst investigators and better equip them to tackle the practice. In addition, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will be conducting a force level inspection on the police response to so-called honour based violence with a focus on FGM. In order to support local areas the government has launched an e-learning tool so that all front line practitioners are able to undertake an introduction to FGM. The government is also funding training for Local Safeguarding Children Boards which will be delivered this financial year and has launched an online FGM resource for local areas. The aim of the resource is to emphasise what works in tackling FGM and highlight examples where effective practice has been identified. The government has part funded a new study by Equality Now and City University into the prevalence of female genital mutilation in England and Wales. The interim report, published in July 2014, has estimated that approximately 60,000 girls aged 0-14 were born in England and Wales to mothers who had had FGM, and that approximately 103,000 women aged 15-49 and approximately 24,000 women aged 50 and over who have migrated to England and Wales are living with the consequences of FGM. In addition, approximately 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have suffered FGM. The full report, with data disaggregated to a local level, will be released in the new year.In addition, since April 2014 NHS staff have been required to record in a patient’s healthcare record whenever it is identified that the patient has suffered FGM. This applies to all NHS clinicians and healthcare professionals across the NHS. The collection became mandatory on 1 September 2014.The first aggregated monthly data return from acute hospital providers in England, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, reported that in September 2014 there were 1,279 patients identified as having undergone FGM prior to the reporting period, who were still being actively seen or treated for FGM-related conditions or any other non-related condition, and 467 newly identified cases of FGM nationally. The government does not hold information on the number of arrests related to FGM in the UK.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research her Department has commissioned on the contribution of testing households products and their ingredients on animals to the UK economy; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has not commissioned research on the contribution of testing household products and their ingredients on animals to the UK economy.We have made a commitment to ban the testing of household products on animals. Although superficially straightforward, this issue has not been easy to resolve. Any solution has to be legally viable since we cannot ban testing which may be required under UK or EU law. We also need to be cautious that we do not develop a solution that precludes research that is essential or drives necessary research overseas. The key issue is around ingredients. My officials are currently engaging with stakeholders to develop a solution that is workable and sensible, but does not have a chain of unforeseen circumstances.

Drugs: Misuse

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department expects to complete its consultation with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on a blanket ban on new psychoactive substances or so-called legal highs.

Lynne Featherstone: On 30 October the Government published its response to the new psychoactive substances review expert panel’s report. We have committed to look at the feasibility of a general prohibition on the distribution of non-controlled new psychoactive substances, through testing and developing of legislative proposals, in the UK context. This work has begun and we will set out further detail on these proposals in due course. Our letter of 30 October to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs committed us to keeping the Council updated as we develop this approach

Identification of Criminals

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements she has made with the governments of (a) Romania and (b) Bulgaria on the sharing of (i) DNA and fingerprints and (ii) other criminal intelligence; and what form such arrangements take.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



Exchange of DNA and fingerprint information with Romania and Bulgaria takes place through the International Criminal Policing Organisation (Interpol). Criminal Intelligence may be shared through Interpol or alternatively through European Police Office (Europol). Within the UK the international sharing of DNA, fingerprints and other criminal intelligence is co-ordinated through the National Crime Agency. Under the terms of Article 7 of Council Framework Decision 2006/960/JHA of 18 December 2006 on simplifying the exchange of information and intelligence between law enforcement authorities of the Member States of the European Union (the Swedish Initiative), Member States may spontaneously exchange information and intelligence in cases where there are factual reasons to believe that the information and intelligence could assist in the detection, prevention or investigation of offences.

Licensing Laws

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answers of 9 July 2013 to Question 163513 and 11 February 2014 to Question 186834, whether she still plans to introduce full-cost recovery for alcohol licensing fees through locally set fees.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 05 December 2014



The Government consulted on proposals for locally-set fees under the Licensing Act 2003 earlier this year, and is considering the responses and the evidence provided by licensing authorities before deciding how to proceed. We will update Parliament in due course.

Young Offender Institutions

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when responsibility for secure institutions for children, including approved schools, transferred away from the Home Office to other Government departments; and to which other departments and bodies that responsibility was transferred.

Lynne Featherstone: On 29 March 2007 in a Written Ministerial Statement the Prime Minister announced a Machinery of Government Change whereby the transfer of a number of policy areas would take place from the Home Office to a new Ministry of Justice. This included the transfer of the National Offender Management Service, including the Prison and Probation Services, on 9th May 2007. Incorporated in this change was the policy relating to the secure estate for young offenders.Section 46 of the Children and Young Persons act 1969 contains provision for the cessation of approved schools as a consequence of the establishment of community homes. The responsibility for approved schools was transferred to the Department of Health and Social Security in 1971 and, in 1973, under a number of orders made under powers in section 46 above approved schools ceased to operate in 1973.

Newsagents: Antisocial Behaviour

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce anti-social behaviour affecting retail newsagents.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of anti-social behaviour affecting retail newsagents there have been in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of crime to retail newsagents.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of theft affecting retail newsagents there have been in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of theft and other crime to retail newsagents in each of the last five years.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office’s Commercial Victimisation Survey provides information about the cost of crime, incidents of theft and anti-social behaviour against the wholesale and retail sector as a whole, but it does not contain data specifically on retail newsagents. As a result it is therefore not possible to provide a national estimate of the cost of theft and other crime to retail newsagents.We do however recognise the disruption that retail crime causes to businesses across the country and that there is a cost to the businesses affected.At a national level, the National Retail Crime Steering Group, chaired by the Minister for Crime Prevention, brings together representatives from Government, law enforcement and retail organisations, both large and small. The Steering Group is intended to address retail crime issues, to make sure that the response is industry-led, and to focus on the priorities important to retailers.In addition, we are improving the response to anti-social behaviour through introducing new faster and more effective powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The new powers will enable the police and local councils to act quickly and to provide better protection to victims, communities and businesses, including retail newsagents, from anti-social behaviour. In addition, individual police forces, local partnerships, businesses and trade associations work closely together locally to address those crimes that are a priority for local communities.

Offences against Children: Databases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of images which will be included in the Child Abuse Image Database as its launch.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offences against Children: Databases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures she has put in place to enable images identified by (a) the Internet Watch Foundation, (b) the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, (c) Interpol and (d) other international law enforcement bodies to be added to the Child Abuse Image Database.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offences against Children: Databases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) the number of images which will be transferred from the National Hash Set Database to the Child Abuse Image Database and (b) the number of those images which have been verified by three experts.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Sexual Offences

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces have licences to use specialist software to monitor the internet usage of registered sex offenders.

Mike Penning: This information is not collated centrally. Tough checks and a range of legislative measures are available to manage known sex offenders. Where there are specific concerns about the online activities of a registered sex offender, Sexual Offences Prevention Orders can impose specific conditions and restrictions on their internet and computer use.

Imitation Firearms

Mr David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many replica firearms were confiscated in each police force area in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk, (c) Bedfordshire, (d) Cambridgeshire, (e) Essex, (f) Hertfordshire, (g) England and (h) Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office. This information is held by the National Police Ballistics Intelligence Service.

Scotland Office

Water

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to reduce water (a) usage and (b) bills in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office takes every opportunity to reduce water usage and costs. In recent years the Office has taken the opportunities provided by other works to install more efficient dishwashers and washing machines, point of use heaters for hot tap water, and cistern displacement devices. We have also introduced new processes for preventing and repairing leaks and defective taps.

HM Treasury

Financial Services: Fines

Keith Vaz: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Financial Services Authority fines (a) were collected in and (b) await collection for each year from 2009.

Andrea Leadsom: This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the successor body to the Financial Services Authority (FSA), who are operationally independent from Government.   This question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Overseas Aid

Mary Creagh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many international payments of less than £2 million his Department has made in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2013-14; how many such payments were made to each country receiving such payments; what the value of such payments was in each such year; and what the cost in fees and transactions of each such payment was.

Mr David Gauke: This information would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

Electronic Publishing: VAT

Mr Elfyn Llwyd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total revenue from taxation levied on e-books, digital magazines and digital newspapers in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the further revenue that will accrue from the forthcoming changes to VAT place of supply rules on those products from 1 January 2015.

Mr David Gauke: No reliable estimate has been possible for the total revenue from VAT levied on e-books in each of the last three years. HMRC estimates that additional revenues as a result of the change to the VAT place of supply rules for telecommunications, broadcasting and e-services for years 2014-15 and 2015-16 will be £70m and £300m respectively.

Orchestras: Tax Allowances

Lady Hermon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Autumn Statement 2014, whether the tax relief for orchestras will be available for orchestras in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: The new tax relief for orchestras will be available across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, from April 2016. The government will launch a consultation on the design of the new tax relief in early 2015.

Hospices: VAT

Lady Hermon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Autumn Statement 2014, how much VAT will be refunded to hospices in Northern Ireland; what the timescale for repayment is; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: Following the Chancellor’s announcement in the Autumn Statement that this government will refund the VAT that hospice charities incur, the government will now engage with the hospice sector, including those in Northern Ireland, in taking this policy forward to implementation.

Inheritance Tax: Overseas Aid

Lady Hermon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Autumn Statement 2014, whether it is his policy that the inheritance tax exemption for aid workers who lose their lives in dealing with humanitarian emergencies, cover (a) British military personnel and (b) British healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: The inheritance tax exemption for those whose death is caused or hastened by injury responding to humanitarian emergencies covers both British military and medical personnel.   The Government will publish draft legislation on 10 December 2014.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Wylfa Power Station

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent representations his Department has received in relation to the proposed Wylfa Newydd power station.

Matthew Hancock: The Department holds regular discussions about the proposed Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant with the developer Horizon Nuclear Power, the Welsh and local governments and other interested parties including members of the local community.

Wylfa Power Station

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate his Department has made of the contribution the proposed power station at Wylfa Newydd will make to the economy of (a) North Wales, (b) Wales and (c) the UK.

Matthew Hancock: The Government expects the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant to bring massive economic benefit to the region, Wales and the UK as a whole. The project is still in the planning phase, so it is too early to estimate its value. However, the developer, Horizon Nuclear Power, has stated that it expects hundreds of millions of pounds to be invested in the local economy. Horizon also expects that the plant will create 1000 permanent jobs and up to 8,500 jobs during the construction phase.

Energy: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2014 to Question 215253, whether his Department produces an estimate of forward prices for electricity and gas prices.

Matthew Hancock: DECC does not itself estimate traded forward prices for electricity and gas. These prices are provided to us on a commercial basis by Marex Spectron and ICIS Heren for electricity and gas respectively.

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households in each council tax band have been issued with vouchers under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund.

Amber Rudd: The Department reported the number and value of Green Deal Home Improvement Fund active applications, vouchers issued and payments made, in Table 5 of the latest monthly statistical release:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-november-2014A breakdown of vouchers under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund in each council tax band is not held centrally.

Oil: Prices

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment he has made of the link between the fall in crude oil prices and petrol prices and whether changes in the price of crude oil are adequately reflected in the price paid for petrol by consumers.

Matthew Hancock: Movements in pump prices are largely driven by crude oil prices. In January 2013, the Office for Fair Trading published the results of a Call for Information to investigate whether or not competition problems existed in the road fuels market. This included investigating concerns that pump prices rise quickly when the wholesale price goes up but fall more slowly when it drops. Their analysis found very limited evidence of this.The Government believes that it is important that consumers get a fair deal and that falls in oil prices materialise into lower prices for motorists. The Government urges fuel retailers fully to pass on changes in the oil price to UK consumers at pumps in full and as quickly as possible.

Energy Supply: Rural Areas

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of rural off gas grid households in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) each county in each.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy Companies Obligation

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information he holds on the level of contribution paid by (a) rural off gas grid customers and (b) other customers for measures installed under the Energy Companies Obligation to date.

Amber Rudd: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Affordable Warmth Programme

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households that benefited from Affordable Warmth measures whose primary fuel type was not mains gas were using each type of fuel up to 30 June 2014.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Meters

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to ensure that the smart meter programme will not exceed the projected costs set out in his Department's impact assessment published in January 2014.

Amber Rudd: The smart meters programme is designed within the legal framework for the GB energy market. This is based on energy companies competing against each other to supply energy to consumers.The Government is requiring all energy suppliers through their licence conditions to deliver smart metering. The energy companies have strong commercial incentives to do this as efficiently as possible, all along their supply chain.Ofgem is responsible for regulating the energy market and is able to intervene where suppliers do not meet their licence conditions. In addition, the Data and Communications Company is regulated by Ofgem to ensure that its services are provided in an economic and efficient manner.The Government is monitoring progress by all parties on whom the smart metering roll-out depends, to ensure benefits to consumers are delivered.There is a strong business case for rolling out smart meters. The total cost of this national infrastructure programme needs to be looked at in the context of its overall net benefits, expected to be around £6 billion.

Energy: Meters

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will work with Ofgem to define the requirement on suppliers to take all reasonable endeavours to deliver smart meters to 100 per cent of their customers.

Amber Rudd: ‘All reasonable steps’ is a standard regulatory phrase that is widely used in energy suppliers’ licences. It means what it says. It places the onus on suppliers to show that they have made genuine good faith efforts with all their customers, while allowing them important flexibility where they have taken all reasonable steps.The Government and Ofgem want suppliers to focus on developing solutions where installations may be technically challenging, and building support for smart metering among their customers.

Business: Energy

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department is taking to provide guidance and assistance to new businesses on maximising energy efficiency measures in their premises.

Amber Rudd: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he has taken to insulate his Departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Amber Rudd: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has investigated the viability of insulating the two buildings it manages and has installed additional insulation in its headquarters building, 3 Whitehall Place. DECC is committed to running its estate as energy efficiently as possible and making significant reductions in its energy use. This is done through a range of measures, including insulation, which are carefully assessed for their feasibility and cost effectiveness.

Electricity Generation

Mr John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much his Department has budgeted for payments to energy companies to maintain spare stand-by electricity generation capacity for winter 2014.

Matthew Hancock: National Grid is responsible for procuring New Balancing Services to provide reserve capacity. Procurement is subject to a methodology approved by Ofgem. National Grid announced in October that it has procured an additional 1.1GW of reserve capacity for this winter. This will cost less than £1 per household and will increase capacity margins from around 4% to over 6%.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Land

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the amount of public land released for development in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of producing a register of all public land available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a timetable of the public land that will be made available for development in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Francis Maude: We recently launched the  Government Property Finder which allows anyone to search and map data for Government property.The Government's ambition is to release land with capacity for 100,000 homes by the end of March 2015. We are on track to deliver, if not exceed this, having so far released land for over 89,000 homes. Of this, land for over 25,000 homes was released between September 2013 and September 2014.Following the Strategic Land and Property Review, Government announced at Budget 2014 that there was scope to release at least £5bn land and property between 2015 – 2020.

Renewable Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Department's buildings for the micro-generation of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Francis Maude: In my Department's main building, 70 Whitehall, heat recovery in the plant rooms is used for domestic hot water and a bore hole provides cooling in summer.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many cases referred by hon Members to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman took (a) up to one month, (b) one to two months, (c) two to three months, (d) three to four months, (e) four to five months, (f) five to six months and (g) more than six months from referral to allocation to a caseworker in each of the last three years; and how long each such case took to be allocated.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many cases referred by hon. Members to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman took (a) up to one month, (b) between one to two months, (c) between two to three months, (d) between three to four months, (e) between four to five months, (f) between five to six months and (g) more than six months from allocation to a caseworker to conclusion; and how long each case which took more than six months took to be concluded.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman publish statistical information on their performance in their Annual Report and Resource Accounts which are laid before Parliament. I have asked the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to write to the Hon. Member with further detail on the specific questions raised. Copies of the reply will be placed in the House Library.

Cardiovascular System: Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease has been in (a) England and (b) each parliamentary constituency in the last 10 years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



ONS Letter to Member - Cardiovascular Disease
(PDF Document, 117.81 KB)

Joint Ministerial Committee

Michael Moore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates the (a) Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) and (b) sub-committees of the JMC met in each calendar year from 2010; which Ministers from the (i) Government and (ii) devolved administrations took part in each such meeting; what the agenda was for each such meeting; and what other topics were discussed at each such meeting.

Mr Oliver Letwin: In line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and the Devolved Administrations, the proceedings of the Joint Ministerial Committee are not made public. However we do publish an annual report which sets out the date of each JMC meeting and the topics covered. Copies of reports from 2009-10 onwards have been placed in the Library of the House. 



Document for Member - JMC Report - 09-10
(PDF Document, 24.45 KB)




Document for Member - JMC Report - 11-12
(PDF Document, 76.83 KB)




Document to Member - JMC Report - 12-13
(PDF Document, 99.1 KB)

Electoral Register

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many 18 to 24 year olds were on the electoral register in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



ONS Letter to Member - Electoral Register
(PDF Document, 80.82 KB)

Older People: Stafford

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the likely change over the next 20 years to the proportion of the population of Stafford constituency who are over the age of 85.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Population Change
(PDF Document, 79.58 KB)

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to insulate his Departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Thursday 4 December 2014 to PQ UIN216834.

Ombudsman

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that Ombudsman offices across the UK liaise to ensure that best practice on timescales for resolution of complaints is replicated.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The main public sector Ombudsmen in the UK meet regularly and work closely together on a range of issues including best practice. Following the Public Administration Select Committee's inquiry into the role of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, I announced my intention to undertake a review of the ombudsman landscape and the case for reform. This work is on-going.

Cattle: Accidents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) employees of farmers, (b) self-employed farmers and (c) members of the public were killed by cattle in each year since 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



ONS Letter to Member - Farmers Killed
(PDF Document, 125.04 KB)

Average Earnings

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what change there has been in the gap between the income of low- and high-income earners over the last 30 years; and what the statistical source is for that information.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Low and High Income
(PDF Document, 125.51 KB)

Marriage: Young People

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many marriages involving at least one party aged 16 years at the time of marriage were recorded in the UK in the most recent year for which data are available.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



ONS Letter to Member - Marriages
(PDF Document, 79.58 KB)

Food Banks

Mr David Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent plans the Government has to undertake research into the reasons for the use of foodbanks.

Mr Rob Wilson: The factors that impact on household food security are complex.In February Defra published ‘Household Food Security in the UK: a Review of Food Aid’. The report is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283072/household-food-security-uk-executive-summary-140219.pdf

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Ofcom

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the timescale is for the recruitment of a new CEO of Ofcom; and for what reasons it has been deemed necessary to appoint an interim CEO of Ofcom.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom's Chief Executive is appointed by the chairman and the other non-executive members of Ofcom, with the approval of the Secretary of State. As such, the process and timing of the appointment is a matter for the Ofcom Board. I have asked the chairman to contact you about the process.

Arts: Health

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department is undertaking any work in partnership with the Department of Health to promote positive health and wellbeing through the arts.

Mr Edward Vaizey: DCMS and the Department for Health held a joint Ministerial round table earlier this year to discuss the ways in which the arts can impact on health and wellbeing. We have published two reports on the social and wellbeing impacts of culture which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quantifying-the-social-impacts-of-sport-and-culture and www.gov.uk/government/publications/quantifying-and-valuing-the-wellbeing-impacts-of-culture-and-sport The Government is funding a What Works Centre on Wellbeing, working with Public Health England to develop further evidence on the impact of culture on wellbeing so that this can be communicated directly to local level practitioners.

Wales Office

Water

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to reduce water (a) usage and (b) bills in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: The Department has taken steps to monitor and reduce its water usage and associated bills, for example in the London Office, all taps switch off automatically to ensure that water is not wasted.The Department’s Cardiff Office is a modern building with built in energy efficiency measures.

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to insulate his Departmental estate in order to improve energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: The Department has taken steps to improve energy efficiency and is currently in the process of replacing its secondary glazing in its London office which will improve the insulation of the London building.The Department’s Cardiff Office is in a modern building with built in energy efficiency measures.

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to support local authorities in providing mental health services.

Norman Lamb: Early in 2014, we published our mental health action plan, Closing the gap: priorities for essential change, which sets out 25 areas for urgent action. The document challenges the health and social care community to move further and faster to transform care and support; the public health community, alongside local government, to give health and wellbeing promotion and prevention the long-overdue attention it needs and deserves; and individuals and communities to shift attitudes in mental health.   Public Health England was established on 1 April 2013 with the mission to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government, the National Health Service, industry and the voluntary and community sector. It is supporting local councils and other partners to give greater attention to mental health within the public health system.   We have called on councils to do what we are doing as a Government and give parity of esteem to mental health, which also means parity in promotion and prevention.   An increasing number of councils are seeing investment in public health as investment in both physical and mental health. This includes ensuring that all major public health programmes consider and assess the impact on mental health. Much of local council spend and responsibilities impact on mental health, for example the provision of green spaces, recreation and leisure services, cycle routes, planning decisions, housing and community safety, social care, children and families services.   Healthy Lives, Healthy People commits to ring-fencing public health funding. Local councils have statutory responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of their populations.

Mental Health Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister of 8 October 2014, how the £120 million to improve mental health treatment will be allocated by local authority.

Norman Lamb: NHS England is responsible for distributing the £120 million funding announced in the new five-year plan for mental health, Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020, by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chief Executive of NHS England on 8 October 2014.   Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020, identified £40 million additional National Health Service spending this year and freed up a further £80 million for 2015-16.   The £40 million investment in mental health for 2014-15 includes an investment of £7 million to end the practice of young people being admitted to mental health beds far away from where they live, or from being inappropriately admitted to adult wards; and an investment of £33 million to support people in mental health crisis, and to boost early intervention services, that help some of the most vulnerable young people in the country to get well and stay well.   NHS England has set out their approach to the allocation of the £80 million for 2015-16 in the document “NHS England investment in mental health 2015/16”, published on 26 November 2014, which can be accessed by the following link:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/payment-systs-mh-note.pdf

NHS: Finance

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether (a) foundation trusts and (b) NHS trusts have received real-terms growth in their budgets in each year since 2010-11.

Dr Daniel Poulter: National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts do not receive budgets directly from the Department of Health. They receive income from NHS England and clinical commissioning groups, for the provision of services.   The income for NHS trusts and foundation trusts from 2010-11 to 2013-14 as per the Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts is shown in the table below.   Provider Income2010-112011-122012-132013-14 £m£m£m£mNHS trusts29,46330,91130,46130,053Foundation trusts30,70535,85638,92141,184Total Provider Income60,16766,76769,38271,237Total Provider Income in 2013-14 Prices63,41369,13170,66171,237Real Terms Growth in £m 5,7181,530576Real Terms Growth in % 9.0%2.2%0.8%   Notes:  1. The figures are gross and do not eliminate inter-company trading between NHS trusts and foundation trusts. 2. The income shown in the table includes both income from patient care activities and other non-trading income such as income for education, training and research. 3. The 9% real income growth for providers in 2011-12 is misleading as it reflects the transfer of the provider arm of primary care trusts to trusts and foundation trusts. The actual level of transfer is uncertain and so it is difficult to estimate a precise figure for expenditure growth to providers on a like basis in 2011-12. Current expectations are that NHS providers will receive real terms increases in their income levels in 2014-15 and 2015-16, in line with the agreed increase in the total Departmental spending in these two years, as per this Government’s commitment to increase total NHS spending in real terms in every year of the 2010-11 spending review.   However, the actual growth levels will not be fully understood until the final accounts have been completed for both years, as this will depend upon the level of activity providers have delivered in the financial year.

Diabetes

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diabetes services in England provide psychological therapies; and  what the waiting list is in each of those that provide such therapies.

Jane Ellison: Information on the provision of psychological therapies as part of diabetes services is not collected centrally.   It is for individual clinical commissioning groups (CCG) to commission treatment and services for people with diabetes and they are best placed to identify what is needed in their local areas. In doing so, NHS England expects CCGs to take into account National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Those guidelines include the provision of psychological support as part of the management of diabetes.

Health Services: Young People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Leicester East of 25 November, Official Report, column 728, on Student Health Services, in what disease areas NHS England is developing transitional care tariffs; when NHS England plans to conclude this work; whether the work on tariffs is part of a broader programme of work examining transitional arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is currently looking at developing transitional care tariffs in palliative care and children and adolescent mental health services. There will be a currency and payment model for cleft lip and palate.   This forms part of the Transitional Care Programme, examining transitional arrangements. Areas of work include:   - diabetes; - rehabilitation of complex disability; and - children and adolescent mental health services.   The Transition Care Programme will be continually monitored. Rather than there being a collective “finish” date, this work will remain ongoing, with certain strands being rolled out as completed.

Prescription Drugs

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) NHS England, (b) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, (c) patient groups and (d) professional groups about prescribing drugs for licensed and off-label indications.

George Freeman: In developing our response to the Off-patent Drugs Bill, we have taken advice from clinicians and officials at NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and taken account of views expressed by other stakeholder organisations. Officials have also had discussions with Breast Cancer Campaign to understand their concerns around the prescribing of off-patent drugs and the implications for patients.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to lay before Parliament the regulations relating to his Department's consultation on Protecting Health and Care Information, published in June 2014; when he intends to publish his Department's response to that consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received from (a) NHS organisations, (b) Public Health England, (c) local authorities and (d) other parties on problems in sharing health and care data; what the content of those representations was; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: In June this year, the Department undertook a consultation in relation to proposed data sharing regulations associated with ensuring that commissioners are able to access the data they need to undertake their statutory functions, at the same time providing for the necessary controls so that this was limited to the minimum level of information required and for specific purposes.   There were 278 responses from a range of organisations, including from within the National Health Service and Local Government, as well as professional organisations such as the Royal Colleges and service user focussed groups. These responses are currently being considered and a Government response will be issued in due course.   The Department continues to have a regular dialogue with organisations across the health and care system, as well as with the recently appointed National Data Guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott, so that we can understand the key priorities that exist in relation to data sharing and, from that, consider what contribution the Department can make to ensuring that data sharing is an effective component of securing the best outcomes for patients.

Cardiovascular System: Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to hospital with (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database (i) in England and (ii) in each local commissioning organisation in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Ellison: This information is not available in the format requested.

First Aid: Education

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the teaching of emergency lifesaving and first aid skills in schools.

Jane Ellison: Department of Health officials have been working with officials from the Department for Education on the development of an initiative to allow schools to buy defibrillators at a reduced price. The British Heart Foundation, which supports the initiative, is also offering free cardiopulmonary resuscitation training kits to all secondary schools as part of its Nation of Lifesavers campaign.

Heart Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the prevalence of heart failure per 100,000 population was as recorded in the Quality and Outcomes Framework database in (a) England and (b) each local commissioning organisation area in the last five years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had heart failure as recorded in the Quality and Outcomes Framework database in (a) England and (b) each local commissioning organisation area in the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The attached tables show the number of patients on the Quality and Outcomes Framework heart failure register and the raw prevalence of heart failure for England and by Clinical Commissioning Group and Primary Care Trust in the last five years. 



Patients on QOF heart failure register by CCG/PCT
(Excel SpreadSheet, 72 KB)

Cardiovascular System: Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rate of admissions to hospital with an (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease per 100,000 population as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database was in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many discharge episodes with an (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database there were in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what rate of discharge episodes with an (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database was in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Ellison: This information is not available in the format requested.

Cholesterol

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rate of discharge episodes with an (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of high cholestoral as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database was in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to hospital with an (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of high cholesterol as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rate of admissions to hospital with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of high cholesterol per 100,000 population as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database was in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many discharge episodes with an (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of high cholesterol as recorded by the Hospital Episodes Statistics database there have been in (i) England and (ii) each local commissioning organisation area in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is set out in the attached tables.   



FAEs- Hypercholesterolaemia in 2003-04 to 2012-13
(Excel SpreadSheet, 122.67 KB)




FDEs- Hypercholesterolaemia in 2003-04 to 2012-13
(Excel SpreadSheet, 124.18 KB)

Medical Records: Databases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage the (a) sharing and (b) linking of health and care data; when he expects the hospital episodes statistics database and GP-level data to be linked; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The National Information Board framework for action Personalised Health and Care 2020 published 13 November 2014 confirms local systems will publish detailed plans by April 2016, outlining how they will ensure by 2020 information and data can be comprehensively shared between all settings of care.   NHS England has confirmed that there will be a phased roll out for the care.data programme, starting with up to 265 general practitioner(GP) practices. It is envisaged that data will be extracted from pathfinder practices early in 2015. This will only take place once the Independent Information Governance Oversight Panel, chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott, has agreed to this and advised the care.data Programme Board and Senior Responsible Owner on the first phase of the programme. No data will be extracted from GP practices as part of the care data programme until Dame Fiona has advised the Secretary of State for Health that she is satisfied with the proposals and safeguards.

Vaccination: Compensation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what elements of vaccine damage policy are the responsibility of (a) his Department and (b) other government departments.

Jane Ellison: Since 1 May 2014, the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) is now a joint responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health (DH).   DH Ministers are responsible for the policy intent and legislation relating to the VDPS. DWP Ministers are responsible for the operation and administration of vaccine damage claims, payments and decision disputes including appeals.

Hypertension

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the prevalence of established hypertension per 100,000 population was as recorded in the Quality and Outcomes Framework database in (a) England and (b) each local commissioning organisation area in the last five years.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people there were with established hypertension as recorded in the Quality and Outcomes Framework database in (a) England and (b) each local commissioning organisation area in the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The attached tables show the number of patients on the Quality and Outcomes Framework hypertension register and the raw prevalence of hypertension for England and by Clinical Commissioning Group and Primary Care Trust in the last five years.   



Patients on QOF hypertension register by CCG/PCT
(Excel SpreadSheet, 71.24 KB)

Eating Disorders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England offers specialist outpatient care and alternatives to inpatient treatment for people with eating disorders.

Norman Lamb: Patients with eating disorders may be treated in a range of settings. Treatment for people with eating disorders in the community (such as specialist outpatient care) is commissioned by clinical commissioning groups, whilst inpatient services are the responsibility of NHS England.   The standard contract for Specialised (Tier 4) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) eating disorder services includes Intensive Day Patient Services as an alternative to inpatient treatment. The level and type of provision will be based on population needs and clinical decisions made locally.   NHS England will be working over the next 18 months to support the development of more community-based specialist teams across the country with the aim of treating more children and young people in the community using best evidence-based models and will develop an access and waiting time standard. On 2 December, the Deputy Prime Minister announced recurrent funding for the next five years of £30 million per year to support this work.

Allied Health Professions

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will respond to the recommendations of the QualityWatch Report on Allied Health Professionals, published in September 2014, on the need to develop information systems that capture consistent and comparable information on all aspects of the quality of allied health professionals' care; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are art, drama and music therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, orthoptists, orthotists/prosthetists, paramedics, physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists. Each profession has to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.   The QualityWatch report on Allied Health Professionals draws on available data which suggests that AHPs are not currently fully represented in or by many of the national quality measures which systematically capture data from the medical or nursing workforce, presenting an inappropriate impression of the activities and outcomes of AHPs. Given the nature and scope of their work, AHPs are ideally placed to address some of the key challenges facing the health and care sectors. However, the report notes where their publically funded employment already spans the NHS, Local Government (Social Care and Education), housing, third sector and independent practice there is a real opportunity now to develop and build measures across sectors that both reflect the pattern of actual service delivery for patients and the outcomes AHPs achieve for them.   To ensure there is an appropriate AHP workforce to continue to supply this diversity of sectors, which reflect patient choice, will also require increasing sophistication of modelling and data capture during work.   The newly appointed NHS England Chief Allied Health Professions Officer is to take up the chair of National Allied Health Professional Informatics Strategy Taskforce and this group, supported by all the AHP professional bodies, will ensure that the findings of the report are formally reviewed and acted upon.

Speech Therapy

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many speech and language therapists are working in the public sector; and if he will estimate the number of such therapists working in the (a) private and (b) third sector.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold centrally the requested information.   However, the latest monthly workforce statistics for August 2014 published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre on 25 November showed that there were 6,207 full time equivalent speech and language therapists working in the National Health Service in England.   There are 13,952 speech and language therapists registered with the regulatory body Health and Care Professions Council.

Occupational Health

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2014 to Question 216134, what steps he is taking to improve the take-up among GPs of the National Education Programme on Health at Work organised by the Royal College of GPs.

Jane Ellison: The National Education Programme ended in March 2011 so there are no plans to increase its uptake amongst general practitioners. However, the programme has brought the training about health and work to prominence in general practice, and has also influenced policy and practice in other medical specialties.

Cervical Cancer

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to make smear tests for cervical cancer available to all women over the age of 16 who are sexually active; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation.   In 2012 the UK NSC recommended that the age of first invitation for cervical screening should be age 25 on the basis that there is evidence of a large number of women screened and treated with relatively little benefit below this age. Cervical cancer in women under the age of 25 is very rare. Younger women often undergo natural and harmless changes in the cervix that screening would identify as cervical abnormalities, and in most cases these abnormalities resolve themselves without any need for treatment.   Cervical cancer is linked to a persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a very common sexually transmitted infection. Since 2008, girls aged 12 and 13 have been offered the HPV vaccination, which immunises them against the most high risk strains of HPV. To start with, girls up to 18 were also vaccinated so the first girls to be vaccinated will be coming into the cervical screening programme next year as they are 23 and 24 now. This vaccine will reduce the already low rates of cervical cancer in these young women and mean they will be protected for many years.

Anticoagulants

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the findings of AntiCoagulation Europe's report, Ready for change? Understanding and improving anticoagulation services, published in October 2014 on the readiness of clinical commissioning groups to plan and assess the effectiveness of anticoagulation services; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to help clinical commissioning groups redesign services to take into account the views of patients and the latest innovations in testing, self-management and anticoagulation therapy.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to help clinical commissioning groups ensure that patients who need anticoagulant treatment are given access to the full range of NICE-approved treatments and informed about the range of treatments available to them.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to help clinical commissioning groups work with providers to collect information on the (a) patient experience of people who use anticoagulation services, (b) quality of local anticoagulation services and (c) clinical outcomes for people who use those services.

Jane Ellison: NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have responsibility for services for patients who receive anticoagulation treatments. It is for individual CCGs to commission treatment and services for patients on anticoagulation treatment or other medications which require monitoring, as they are best placed to identify what is needed in their local areas.   There is guidance in place to support CCGs in planning services for patients who receive anticoagulation treatments. Under its Diagnostics Assessment Programme, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on self-monitoring of anticoagulation treatments. It has also published updated guidance on the management and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) which makes recommendations on the use of newer anticoagulants. NHS England expects CCGs to take account of NICE guidance when commissioning services for patients on anticoagulation treatments. Many Strategic Clinical Networks also have programmes in place to support CCGs to develop these services, including the GRASP AF tool and the Anticoagulation Europe’s report will help drive forward improvements in this area.

NHS: Finance

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of real terms changes to foundation trust and NHS trust budgets in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

Dr Daniel Poulter: National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts do not receive budgets directly from the Department of Health. They receive income from NHS England and clinical commissioning groups, for the provision of services.   The income for NHS trusts and foundation trusts from 2010-11 to 2013-14 as per the Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts is shown in the table below.   Provider Income2010-112011-122012-132013-14 £m£m£m£mNHS trusts29,46330,91130,46130,053Foundation trusts30,70535,85638,92141,184Total Provider Income60,16766,76769,38271,237Total Provider Income in 2013-14 Prices63,41369,13170,66171,237Real Terms Growth in £m 5,7181,530576Real Terms Growth in % 9.0%2.2%0.8%   Notes:  1. The figures are gross and do not eliminate inter-company trading between NHS trusts and foundation trusts. 2. The income shown in the table includes both income from patient care activities and other non-trading income such as income for education, training and research. 3. The 9% real income growth for providers in 2011-12 is misleading as it reflects the transfer of the provider arm of primary care trusts to trusts and foundation trusts. The actual level of transfer is uncertain and so it is difficult to estimate a precise figure for expenditure growth to providers on a like basis in 2011-12. Current expectations are that NHS providers will receive real terms increases in their income levels in 2014-15 and 2015-16, in line with the agreed increase in the total Departmental spending in these two years, as per this Government’s commitment to increase total NHS spending in real terms in every year of the 2010-11 spending review.   However, the actual growth levels will not be fully understood until the final accounts have been completed for both years, as this will depend upon the level of activity providers have delivered in the financial year.

Pancreatic Cancer: Drugs

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he plans to take to ensure that the Cancer Drugs Fund panel consults with expert clinicians when re-evaluating listed treatments for pancreatic cancer.

George Freeman: This is a matter for NHS England. NHS England has advised us that its Cancer Drugs Fund panel includes expert oncologists, haemato-oncologists and oncology pharmacists, as well as patient representatives.   Should the panel consider that it requires additional advice on a particular cancer to aid its decision making, it will access this externally as appropriate.   NHS England’s standard operating procedures for the Fund are available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/

Drugs

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to apply standardised packaging of tobacco to legal high products.

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to apply standardised packaging of tobacco to e-cigarettes.

Jane Ellison: The Government’s proposals for standardised packaging of tobacco products were set out in the consultation that was published on 26 June 2014. That consultation included draft regulations which specified requirements for the packaging of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco only.   The consultation document entitled Consultation on the introduction of regulations for standardised packaging of tobacco products, has been attached. 



Consultation on Regulations Standardised Packaging
(PDF Document, 940.48 KB)

Mental Health Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department has allocated for mental health (a) prevention and (b) treatment in the last year.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure parity of esteem between mental and physical health.

Norman Lamb: The Government’s commitment to parity of esteem has been made explicit in legislation, as well as the NHS Constitution and the Mandate to NHS England   Funding for mental health has increased by £302 million in 2014-15, total mental health spending rose from £1.32 billion in 2013-14 with £11.664 billion planned in 2014-15.   The Department and NHS England continue to work together to ensure that there are consistent messages to commissioners and providers about the importance of delivering parity of esteem for mental health service users.   In our five-year plan for mental health, Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020, we identified £40 million additional spending this year and freed up a further £80 million for 2015-16. This will, for the first time ever, enable the setting of access and waiting time standards in mental health services from 2015-16 and includes new targets to make sure that, by 2016, at least 50% of young people referred for early intervention in psychosis services will start treatment within two weeks.   There has been sustained investment in mental health over the course of this Parliament. We have invested £400 million in Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) for adults and £54 million over the four year period from 2011-2015 in the children and young people’s IAPT programme to transform child and adolescent mental health services.   We have invested £2 million in nine street triage pilots where police and mental health professionals work together to support people in mental health crisis access safe, appropriate care and we have committed £25 million in 2014-15 to commission 10 trial sites delivering on a new standard service specification for liaison and diversion services in England.   Public Health England (PHE) has also made a commitment to addressing parity of esteem which includes working to promote good mental health and preventing mental health problems. In the current financial year, 2014-15, its direct investment in mental health equates to about 1% of PHE’s total £400 million spend, approximately £4 million.

Mental Health Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the effect of local authority budget cuts on provision of mental health services.

Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Health has had no specific discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on local authority spending and the provision of mental health services.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has published on sickle cell anaemia in the last four years.

George Freeman: The NIHR Journals Library comprises a suite of open access journals providing a permanent archive of research funded by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through five NIHR programmes (Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; Health Services and Delivery Research; Health Technology Assessment; Programme Grants for Applied Research; Public Health Research). The NIHR Journals Library is available at:   http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/   The following reports relating to sickle cell anaemia have been published in the NIHR Journals Library in the last four years:   - The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of primary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease: a systematic review and economic evaluation (2012)   - Antenatal screening for haemoglobinopathies in primary care: a cohort study and cluster randomised trial to inform a simulation model. The Screening for Haemoglobinopathies in First Trimester (SHIFT) trial (2010)   Across all NIHR funding streams, and across all topic areas including sickle cell anaemia, the Department and the NIHR require that NIHR funded researchers seek to publish their research outputs in a peer-reviewed journal that is compliant with the NIHR policy on open access.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he last met the Sickle Cell Society; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Genetic Alliance UK, of which the Sickle Cell Society is a member, are represented on the Department’s UK Rare Disease Forum, which meets regularly to discuss issues of United Kingdom rare diseases policy and to monitor the implementation of the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases.   There have been no recent direct discussions between my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and the Sickle Cell Society.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spends on sickle cell anaemia; and what proportion this is of the total NHS budget.

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of treating sickle cell anaemia.

Jane Ellison: There are an estimated 250,000 people with sickle cell anaemia in the United Kingdom. The Department has made no estimation of the annual cost of treating sickle cell anaemia in the National Health Service nor does it hold information on the total NHS spend on sickle cell anaemia.   The Department does hold estimated costs for admitted patient care episodes as reported by Healthcare Resource Groups. In 2013-14 the total estimated figure for sickle anaemia was £23.8 million; in 2012-13 it was £21.9 million. This figure does not include other costs such as primary and social care.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultant and nursing specialists in sickle cell anaemia are employed by the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Information about the number of consultant and nursing specialists in sickle cell anaemia is not collected centrally.

Pregnancy: Depressive Illnesses

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of cases of perinatal depression which go undiagnosed in each year.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of women suffering from mental health problems during and after pregnancy.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Mandate from the Government to NHS England includes an objective for NHS England to work with partner organisations to reduce the incidence and impact of perinatal mental health problems through earlier diagnosis, and better intervention and support.   The NHS Mandate also includes an objective that every woman has a named midwife who is responsible for ensuring she has personalised care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and during the postnatal period. This will help clinicians to identify perinatal mental health problems as early as possible and to give women the support they need.   Health Education England (HEE) has committed to ensure that we have the right knowledge and training available so that we can be skilled in how we look after women’s mental as well as physical health. The HEE Mandate includes an objective that there will be specialist mental health staff available for every birthing unit by 2017.   The Department has funded the Institute of Health Visitors to train a network of four hundred perinatal mental health visitor champions, and has also introduced three interactive e-learning modules. This new resource will help health visitors in the detection and management of perinatal depression and other maternal mental health conditions.   Data on undiagnosed cases of perinatal depression is not collected centrally.

Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that clinical commissioning groups have a strategy for commissioning perinatal mental health services.

Dr Daniel Poulter: NHS England is responsible for commissioning perinatal mental health units in England. NHS England works with a range of stakeholders at a national level to determine the outcomes expected for specialised services such as perinatal mental health. The service specification for perinatal mental health services can be found at the following link:   www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-c/c06/   NHS England have also committed in their business plan to develop and deliver a pathway to support women with postnatal mental health problems by March 2015. NHS England is undertaking a detailed review of those services where a good maternal mental health pathway is in place and plan to share the learning from this review through guidance for commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) and providers. NHS England’s business plan 2014/15 – 2016/17 can be found at the following link:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ppf-1415-1617-wa.pdf

Postnatal Depression

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from charities and healthcare experts on postnatal depression.

Dr Daniel Poulter: A search of the Department’s Ministerial correspondence database has identified five items of correspondence from charities or healthcare experts received since 1 June 2014 about postnatal depression. This figure represents correspondence received by the Department’s Ministerial correspondence unit only. In addition, in the same period I have met with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the London Perinatal Health Network to discuss and coordinate action on a range of perinatal mental health issues, including post-natal depression.

Mental Illness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of mental health conditions were admitted to hospital as an emergency (i) in England, (ii) as a proportion of the total number of emergency admissions and (iii) in each local commissioning area of responsibility in each month since monthly figures were first collected.

Norman Lamb: Information on (a) the number of emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) with a (i) primary and (ii) secondary diagnosis of mental health conditions and as a percentage of all emergency admissions, by month, April 1998 to March 2013, (b) the number of emergency FAEs with a primary diagnosis of mental health conditions by primary care trust (PCT) of responsibility and month, April 2003 to March 2013, and (c) the number of emergency FAEs with a secondary diagnosis of mental health conditions by PCT of responsibility and month, April 2003 to March 2013, is attached. 



FAEs- Mental health conditions 1998 to 2013
(Excel SpreadSheet, 506.29 KB)

Asthma

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will work with NHS England to ensure that a national clinical audit is carried out into services for people with asthma.

Jane Ellison: A number of potential areas are being considered for new national clinical audits, including asthma. However, no final decision has yet been taken.

General Practitioners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GPs there were in England on 1 November 2014.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre annual workforce census provides data on the number of general practitioners (GPs) working in the National Health Service in England. The latest information is for the 30 September 2013 and shows there were 36,294 GPs working and training in the NHS.   The next annual workforce census, reflecting the position as at 30 September 2014, will be published on the 25 March 2015.

General Practitioners: Pay

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average salary is of a GP.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information in relation to salaried general practitioners (GPs) is recorded in the table below:   Salaried GPs – Income before tax in Cash terms – England and Wales 2012/13  Mean EarningsGross IncomeExpensesIncome before TaxEngland£64,700£81,00£56,600Wales£65,200£11,100£54,100   The information relating to partner GPs is recorded in the table below:   Contractor GPs – Income before tax in Cash terms – England and Wales 2012/13  Mean EarningsGross IncomeExpensesIncome before TaxEngland£289,300£184,200£105,100Wales£233,800£142,800£91,000   Notes: The tables are presented in cash terms of income before tax for contractor GPs (partners) and salaried GPs under a General Medical Services (GMS) or Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract and exclude expenses. This is taxable income before pension contributions are deducted, made up of gross earnings less total expenses, also known as net income.The data covers income from both National Health Service and private sources where a GP has at least some NHS income. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100. The median earnings gross income and expenses data is not held, only the income before tax. Data is for GPs under a GMS or PMS contract only   Source: GP Earnings and Expenses Enquiries 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre

Pancreatic Cancer

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that the treatment for pancreatic cancer listed by the Cancer Drugs Fund will continue to be made available to patients on the NHS.

George Freeman: NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund panel plans to assess, on the basis of the latest evidence, whether certain drugs, including Abraxane (albumin bound paclitaxel) for advanced pancreatic cancer, should continue to be made routinely available to new patients through the Fund and to consider a number of new drugs for potential addition to the Fund.   NHS England has assured the Department that no patient whose treatment is currently being funded through the Fund will have funding withdrawn, as long as it is clinically appropriate that they continue to receive that treatment. In addition, no drug will be removed from the Fund where it is the only therapy for that condition.  We are committed to maintaining the Cancer Drugs Fund until the end of March 2016. We will carefully consider with NHS England what arrangements should be put in place for the long term.

Dialysis Machines

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2014 to Question 215404, what consultation NHS England undertook with the renal dialysis clinical reference group when developing its proposal to transfer responsibility for commissioning of dialysis to clinical commissioning groups; and what response that clinical reference group gave to that proposal.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2014 to Question 215404, what consultation NHS England undertook with external stakeholders before announcing the proposal to transfer responsibility for commissioning of dialysis to clinical commissioning groups; and if he will ensure that NHS England undertakes further consultation on the principle as well as the process of transferring that responsibility.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has advised that they discussed the overall direction of travel for specialised services with Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs), although the renal dialysis CRG was not directly consulted in the early discussions about whether to consider changing the commissioning arrangements for renal services. However, clinical leaders have been part of the deliberations and will continue to be involved through the consultation process.   The development of the proposals for transferring responsibility for renal dialysis services and morbid obesity surgery services which NHS England put to the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group (PSSAG) for consideration was done in partnership with the NHS Commissioning Assembly Task and Finish Group on Specialised Service commissioning. This group is made up of clinical commissioners from around the country. The group was asked by NHS England to advise on the development of proposals for enhancing specialised service commissioning in 2015-16, specifically proposals that would enable improved pathway integrity. NHS England presented the proposed direction of travel for specialised commissioning in 2015-16 to the chairs of CRGs earlier in the year.   PSSAG recommended transferring commissioning responsibility for renal dialysis services from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The Department has launched a public consultation to consider how to transfer commissioning responsibility and what would need to happen to ensure a smooth transition and maintain both service standards and patient safety. This consultation closes on 9 January 2015.   NHS England have advised that they are in dialogue with key stakeholders about both the opportunities and challenges of transferring commissioning responsibility for renal services from NHS England to CCGs.

Parkinson's Disease: Drugs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many incidents involving Parkinson's disease and medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease resulting in (a) low, (b) moderate and (c) severe harm were reported to the National Reporting and Learning System between July and November 2014; and which reporting organisation reported each such incident.

Dr Daniel Poulter: A table is attached showing the number of patient safety incidents involving Parkinson’s disease and medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease, which resulted in low harm, moderate harm and severe harm that were reported to the National Reporting and Learning System between July and November 2014, together with the reporting organisation that reported each such incident. 



Patient safety incidents- Parkinson's Disease
(Word Document, 23.33 KB)

Pregnancy Tests

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made in setting up an inquiry into the use of the hormone pregnancy test Primados.

George Freeman: A panel of independent experts is being convened to review all available data on the possible association between hormonal pregnancy tests, including Primodos, and birth defects. The Government is in the process of obtaining all relevant documents in order that they may be evaluated by the Panel. The time frame for the inquiry has yet to be finalised but the Panel is expected to review the evidence in the early months of 2015.

Pancreatic Cancer: Drugs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on the decision-making process on whether the most effective medicines will continue to be made available to patients with pancreatic cancer on the NHS.

George Freeman: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for providing advice to the National Health Service on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies. NICE has been asked to appraise a number of pancreatic cancer drugs and commissioners will continue to be legally required to fund treatments recommended by NICE technology appraisal guidance.   Decisions on the drugs made available through the Cancer Drugs Fund are a matter for NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund panel. The standard operating procedures for the Fund, which outline the decision-making process the panel follows is available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/   We are committed to maintaining the Cancer Drugs Fund until the end of March 2016. We will carefully consider with NHS England what arrangements should be put in place for the long term.

Pancreatic Cancer: Drugs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with NHS England on recognising incremental innovation in pancreatic cancer treatment when assessing medicines for inclusion on the Cancer Drugs Fund.

George Freeman: Decisions on the drugs made available through the Cancer Drugs Fund are a matter for NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund panel. We have had no discussions. The standard operating procedures for the Fund, which outline the decision-making process the panel follows is available at: www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/   Such decisions are made by an expert panel of clinicians which also includes patient representation. Additionally the panel will use its expert judgement in making final decisions and will be aware of specific issues relating to current treatment options for a given disease area.